Northern Lights up the Prix de Rome ::

Congratulations! to Jack and Tony at Kobayashi + Zedda Architects Ltd. (Whitehorse, YT) for winning the Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture for 2006.
The award is given annually to “…a young architect or practitioner of architecture, an architecture firm or an architectural design firm that has completed its first buildings and demonstrated exceptional artistic potential.”
Their plans to travel to the circumpolar regions of the north including Iceland, Greenland, Russia, Norway and Finland will allow them to observe architectural design which share similar geographic and climatic conditions to that of Northern Canada.
Jack and Tony are thoughtful young architects with an unparalleled architectural vision which combines a strong modern silhouette with subtle references to traditional First Nations vernacular. Architecturally their attention to detail, sustainable design and their bold use of colour aim to compliment and engage their unique building environment.

ReadMORE::
+ Prix de Rome 2006 News Release
+ Kobayashi + Zedda Web Site
+ Publication: KZA's: Ordish Andeson House, Canadian Architect July 2005

(re)Writing my Master('s) Piece. In the meantime...

ReadingSPACE ::
+ Unboxed:Engagements in Social Space, edited by Jen Budney & Adrian Blackwell
Essays based on a lecture series held at Carleton University(2002) in co-ordination with Gallery 101(Ottawa). Includes text by: Adrian Blackwell, Vito Acconci and Lucy Orta.
+ Reading Pictures: What we think about when we look at art, written by Alberto Manguel
Manguel approaches this book from a layman's view of art by attempting to figure out how people interpret, decipher and 'read' images.

SongSPACE ::
+ Omaha by Tapes 'n Tapes: The Loon.

Super Dutch ::


+ You may remember Maarten Baas’ fantastically clever furniture series: Smoke - where Baas burned & preserved pieces of replica furniture (of which I L-O-V-E Gaudi’s 1902 Calvet Armchair while MacKintosh’s 1902 Hill House 1 Chair comes a close 2nd). Now Baas is at it again with his new collection titled: Clay. For this collection Baas uses hand-molded industrial clay as a primary working material formed around metal ‘skeletons’. Upon my first impression I was reminded of Alberto Giacometti’s sculptures (although different in material, they share a similar texture and form). Regardless, as individual pieces Baas has created intriguing, playful and awkwardly elegant furniture.

Love or Hate? ::
. I missed my opportunity to see this movie in Ottawa (boo!). So, I'd like to hear what you thought of it!
. Personally I like Frank. He's an artist. Spatially I think he questions our typical notions and relationships to space with original provocations (throughout his career). Also I think his work challenges the current building/technology industry to create new ways to use tools, construction techniques and materials.
. People give Gehry a hard time for things like the "Bilbao Effect" but never question the various *beautiful* 'Co-Mo' buildings which plague many of our urban landscapes.
. I do agree that some of his recent commercial decisions may be a wee-bit excessive -ex. Brad Pitt...but he hasn't let it influence his architecture (yet) *fingers crossed*.

. Gehry is an evolving space-maker who seems as though is still in the process of learning and experimenting.
And really, in the end isn't that what all architects dream of doing?

MoreCRITIQUES:
+CBC //+Metacritic //+Globe and Mail//+ Torontoist
MoreGEHRY:
+ Sony Pictures : includes info and trailer

ScreenSPACE:: Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
Written and directed by Woody Allen.

+ Intelligent, whimsical, romantic and comedic. This is a film about ‘making love’ – real or imagined. Set during the Great Depression, Mia Farrow’s character is a soft and honest married woman trapped in an abusive relationship. Her escape from her hardship comes in the form of movies – of which she regularly attends. Her dedication and love of film causes her to become a real-life love interest of an onscreen character. What ensues is a humourous tale of love and deceit which leaves you sadly perplexed but definitely hopeful.

Retired: PF Flyers
*sigh*...emotional attachment can be an unpredictable phenomenon. Sometimes taken for granted an attachment for something isn't always apparent until you have to part with it. My most recent attachment came in the form of shoes - yes, shoes. Although they've been a part of my daily routine for almost two years, I suppose their most valued characteristic was that they became associated with my travels through Europe. No longer were they just a 'cool' pair of shoes but they had become a symbol of my personal growth. Like a photograph they captured moments of a narrative. Untold and seemingly insignificant stories could be revealed through their numerous abrasions and patchwork repair. Ironically they will only exist in this photo(above)...hasta la vista.

Scared Sacred:


In Scared Sacred director Velcrow Ripper chooses to accomplish one thing: to reveal the possibility of reconciliation through the use of some of the most horrific and terrifying events of our recent history. Since each resolution is unique to the situation and/or person(s), Ripper exposes the viewer to the alternatives of reconciliation either from within the people themselves or through other forms of belief systems.

He touches upon many (9 to be exact) events which occured in various countries beginning in India with a faulty Carbide factory and ending in Israel with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He tackles these sensitive and politically charged issues in this documentary by allowing the viewer to learn about each tragedy through the personal recollections of the survivors. While also serving as a personal journey to reconcile his own feelings of unanswered questions regarding loss, hatred, politics and war; Ripper uses the meditations of these people to inspire others to have the ability to forgive and move beyond their own personal tragedies.

His simple message of acceptance and forgiveness is a much needed one in our current society. Although laden with enormous doubt and sadness, Scared Sacred carves out a narrow path of hope for our past and current ills.

ReadMORE:: Velcrow Ripper’s Blog

Winner:



Under the direction of Jean-Pierre Chupin and with the help of the Laboratoire d'étude de l'architecture potentielle de l'Université de Montréal (LEAP); the compilation of Canadian competition entries and information has been documented in the web-based Canadian Competitions Catalogue.
Both a database for perusing Canadian-run competitions as well as providing a search engine for locating specific competitions the CCC's extensive archive of information dates back to as early as 1946!

ReadMORE ::
+ Canadian Architect
+ Canadian Competitions Catalogue Website (English)

Special Exhibition: Seven Years’ War

The Defeat of the French Fireships attacking the British Fleet at Anchor before Quebec, 28 June 1759 // Painting by Dominic Serres // Courtesy of Library and Archives Canada, C-4291.

SeeIT! ::
+ Currently showing at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, ON.
ReadMORE! ::
+ The Canadian War Museum featured in Canadian Architect Magazine (Sept.2005)
+ More on The Seven Years' War.