iArch to go

One of my new years resolutions was to finally write about kiwi architecture or better said kiwi pioneer construction methods... but I'll do that later. The point is that a group of people (like moon-watcher) became a tribe when they established a political system, they became a culture when they started writing and keeping records, then they become a civilization when they start making permanent buildings using stones or bricks. Usually the first permanent buildings in any culture are churches. Maybe because it has a symbolism that their beliefs and religion will stand forever, long after they are gone. A church cannot or should not be built out of wood... because that would mean that the worshipers are not considering transcendence, they just want a roof on top when they pray.

When civilizations started to make permanent buildings, they realized that those building would be there forever, Well, Duh! Anyway, if you are going to build something permanent, you need someone to plan something that says: here is my permanent legacy, at least until someone demolishes it, like the twin towers or you build portable non permanent structures like Shigeru Ban's. That is the role of a good architect, like Numerobis for example.

Nowadays is more complex than that, we have functional, economic, environmental, historic and many other factors to consider. To be a serious architect (just like for designers too) you also have to be serious about all those issues... it's not just intuition or ingenuity, it's an academic science. Check out arq.com.mx for good tips and articles (in spanish) or you can also make your own suggestions on the 10 most hated/horrible buildings and/or monuments in Mexico. By the way ITESM's campus ciudad de Mexico looks like it's going to be a finalist with more than 1,000 votes, also remarkable that there are many sculptures of Sebastian as most hated... but my "favourite" most hated is the "Presidencia municipal de Michoacan" or the copy of the stairway to nowhere (from the simpsons)... but there's also the "puente atarantado" (a plagiarised copy of one of Calatrava's bridges), Macroplaza, and many other sculptures and buildings which could fill an "architecture horror spook museum".

Raul sent me the invitation to the ceremony to welcome the new academic members (including him and some other friends and acquaintances) into the National Architects Academy (Guadalajara, Mexico) at Goethe Institut, Guadalajara. It's funny that Arq. Venancio Ordoño was also awarded as emeritus member, he was Raul's bachelor thesis supervisor. Congratulations to all new members. (update: here are the pics of the ceremony)

Just to add some product design into this post. Here are the "cities in a bag" (via) which are building blocks resembling buildings in New York, Tokyo and Paris... when architecture meets industrial design, it becomes portable too. (not port-a-loo)

One question: If there's "Real Estate" is there an "UnReal Estate" ?

ciao