Personal Trajectory Ctd. CV

See my Curriculum Vitae attached above, if you require further information with regards to references and portfolio please send an email to k0841834@kingston.ac.uk

Barbican Art Gallery 24th March 2011

Myself and Andy Laird, a friend from Aberdeen went to the Barbican Art Gallery to see an exhibition of Laurie Anderson, Trisha Brown, Gordon Matta-Clark's work. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos of the exhibition though examples of the artists work can be explored as follows, in particular that of Gordon Matta Clark who seemed to gain the most amount of appreciation from myself given his architectural and surrealist background.

Gordon Matta Clark - Profile and Work

Gordon Matta Clark is an American Born qualified architect in which he studied at Cornell University, though afterwards he decided not to embark on a conventional architecture career. He came from a artists background, his brother was also an artist. After he graduated from University he developed a style of architecture called Anarchitecture which was heavily influenced by art and surrealism.

He is widely recognised among the art and architecture society for his 'building cutting' approach. He used ranging types of media to communicate his work such as photography, filming, video and even typography. The examples of his famous work shown below are both incredibly sincere, experimental and distinctive. The building cuts show fragmentation and disfigurement of buildings that are so used to being seen as untouched and structurally integral, bringing forward mixed emotions about the structure itself and its immediate surrounding context. (images from google images)

Trisha Brown

Trisha Brown is an American born postmodernist choreographer and dancer. Much of her acts are designed specifically for the site in which her acts are performed. The images below show one of her projects that I find most stunning and unexpected. A woman strapped to a harness walking down steep slanted steps elegantly, giving the illusion that she is gracefully defying gravity. (images from google images)

Ecobuild 20th - 22nd March 2011 and Personal Trajectory

The main purpose behind my visit to ecobuild this year was to explore new innovative green technology suitable for my major end of year studio project based in Lower River Dee region, Aberdeen. I came across many fascinating technologies, some of which were not appropriate for application to areas of my site but nevertheless they grabbed my attention. The key innovative technology that interested me most was "Boddington's Grass and Ground Reinforcement Solutions" (For more information see www.grass-reinforcement.com). It is highly appropriate for similar application to certain infrastructure found in my proposed plan, of which car parking facilities should remain low in visual impact, hold excellent sustainable drainage systems and withstand heavy vehicular pressure in its seemingly natural state ("Grass Protecta (Heavy Grade" is essentially a protector which encourages grass growth whilst minimizes the effects that vehicular and pedestrian weight can cause towards ground rutting). (edited 20th April 2011)

Other useful company product guides that I took home with me include:

• Atlas Concorde: PLAN, outdoor design
• Frosts: VERTISCAPES
• Sempergreen: Vegetation Blankets for Roof and Ground Covering
• Sempergreen: Vertical Systems
• Safetytread: Slip-Resistant Treds, Stair Nosings and Inserts
• DeltaLight: The Lighting Bible 8

In my final major studio project I am also proposing a site which shall be used for creating renewable energy (high river current velocity in particular site). Such technology was not found

at ecobuild though the event definitely encouraged me to introduce innovative green technology as a key component in my studio project. (edited 20th April 2011)

(Precedent/Innovative Technology Research for part of my Final Major Studio Project)

Unexpected Use of Space

This study explores the art of skateboarding, and how such activity adapts to the immediate and surrounding context of interior but primarily exterior disused landscapes. Skateboarding has always been associated with the streets, allowing the enthusiast and his/her tricks to flourish and adapt to ranging conditions that is rarely achievable in a generic modern day skatepark due to its custom made and seemingly perfect structure and composition. Skateboarding, I find is most natural to participate and watch when being performed on random obstacles and changing surfaces etc, of which were not intended for skateboarding use.

The following precedents explore this activity taking place on rustic and organic mediums of enclosed and exterior space.

Unexpected Use of Space

"Lego Land (Secret DIY spot)", Austin, Texas

It is important to note that this area has been left to decay over a considerable amount of time, dozens of concrete slabs were left behind from construction work that took place in its local area, the enthusiasts therefore transformed this space into a useful playground for skateboarding by simply placing the slabs where appropriate in order to ensure fluidity and creativity in their movement throughout this exterior space. (images from google images)

Unexpected Use of Space

"D'IT YERSEL", London (Secret Spot)

The Secret Home Made Skate Park... from Martyn Thomas on Vimeo.

These guys turned a disused exterior space and created a home made skatepark.

Unexpected Use of Space

Skateboarding in bonny Scotland

John Rattray is an Aberdeen born professional Skateboarder, his style is distinctive and fluid which is probably brought on by the numerous street spots in which he skated growing up in Scotland.

Unexpected Use of Space

Javier Mendizabal

Cliché Javier Mendizabal commercial by French Fred from Cliché Skateboards on Vimeo.

working with common architectural artefacts that we often see in the urban landscape.

Unexpected Use of Space

"Nordic Hydro Pipe", Finland

This pipe is clearly not intended for skateboarding use, though the images suggest that this structure is entirely suitable for this activity.

Unexpected Use of Space

"Denburn", Aberdeen

(art by Mike Hughes and Richard Maciver)

bought a new camera, Olympus OM-10!! :)

Stockholm Trip, 15th February 2011

View Sweden in a larger map

DAY 1 - On Tuesday early morning (15^th February 2011), I, Gar, Enrico, Aaron and Joe set off to London Stansted Airport in a taxi, where the entire students of L6 and Bridget Snaith would then meet before boarding our flight at 08:00 to Skavsta Airport just outside of Stockholm in Sweden. I had no idea what to expect of Stockholm, though considering the time at which we went during winter and the longitudinal situation of Sweden I gathered that it would be pretty chilly and snowy (which happens to be my favourite weather of all). Once we landed at Stockholm we immediately set forth to Gamlastan, Stockholm where we all stayed for the duration of our trip. I was instantly taken back by the unique characteristics of the landscapes in which we passed by bus, though in particular the ranging characteristics of Stockholm city were most captivating for a new visitor like myself and the majority of students alike. After checking in to our hostel in Gamlastan we then went for a walk around the city centre and Soddermalm, we took a lot of pictures followed by an expensive pint on Regeringsgatan.

Stockholm Trip, 16th February 2011

The following day was extremely tiring due to the amount of mileage that our wee legs clocked up along the frozen waterfront that divides the island of Kungsholmen and Soddermalm. The depth of snow was substantial above the water and even on the sidewalks. From a technical landscape architectural perspective, having such a deep snow base didn’t exactly help at all though I did gain an insightful understanding into the unique social qualities of Stockholms people during the cold winter months. Seeing families walk their children to school in ski outerwear and big woollen beanies and mittens, dogs playing in the snow and even a few cross country skiers heading to work brought a few distinctive emotions forward, ones that I have never felt before because it felt like Stockholm was the furthest place from home.

I remember thinking to myself that this place was quite literally a winter wonderland, sometimes I was reminded of the somewhat similar atmosphere that was experienced in Whistler, Canada during my travels a couple of years back. Because of the tremendous difference between Stockholm and London based on these conditions it was impossible to compare the two, though it was interesting to see how much of the snow was left in its natural state after snowfall rather than being gritted or ploughed to make way for pedestrians and vehicular use, from this action alone you could immediately tell that the people of Stockholm are far more complacent than that of London’s population if similar conditions were to take place. Streets were incredibly quiet and it was rare to hear a loud conversation or shouting between people, instead you could also tell that much more respect is given between its population. I managed to take a couple of pictures that best conveys my experience walking along the waterfront (below).