Ninjas on the ‘Net

HAPPY [wicked cold] NEW YEAR!

I’ve obviously not been particularly attentive to AMNP as of late, but my singular new year’s resolution is to cut the crap and get back to work – hopefully I’ll manage to keep that goal alive for more than the 2 weeks that my resolutions typically last…

And to start the new year off, a quick round-up of some links worth checking out as you try to adjust to being back in the office now that the holidays are finally over.

- 2009 in review, a decade in retrospect, and the decade ahead [varnelis.net]

- Burj Dubai opens amid financial crisis [Boston.com]

- Boston’s beautiful brutalism [Boston.com]

- Ouroussoff on the Novartis campus [NY Times]

- the year in architecture [NY Times]

- living in a tiny plastic bunk [NY Times]

- view from Los Angeles City Hall, then and now [LA Times]

- architects and chapter 11 [Archidose]

- ‘Landscape Architect’ one of best 50 careers for 2010? [USNews+World Report]

- SF Chinatown tourists don’t see [RaceWire]

- housing bubble threatening China’s boom? [Globe and Mail]

- futuristic trailer learning [atelier a+d]

- spiral icon + the blobwall and the bomb [BLDGBLOG]

- Sumare House [COOLBOOM]

- imaginary subway maps [COOL HUNTING]

Posted: January 5th, 2010
at 1:02pm


Categories: Ninjas on the 'net

Comments: No comments


Zaha Hadid on Charlie Rose

[note: to get to Zaha, skip ahead to about the 39:30 mark]

In this interview with Zaha Hadid, Paul Goldberger [architecture critic for the New Yorker] sits in for Charlie Rose. This interview aired in the summer of 2006 [I believe].

Speaking of the New Yorker and Zaha, check out the recent article in the magazine on Hadid and here work, “The Abstractionist“. They’ve also posted an audio slideshow showcasing her newest completed project, the MAXXI Museum in Rome – which opened without any art on display, as ‘the building itself is exhibition enough’ [ha].

Posted: December 22nd, 2009
at 12:58pm


Categories: architecture, starchitects, videos

Comments: 1 comment


AMNP Reviews: The Function of Form

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Farshid Moussavi and ACTAR have released the first follow-up to 2006’s hugely popular The Function of Ornament,

Farshid Moussavi [now formerly of FOA], Harvard’s GSD, and Actar have responded to the widespread success of 2006’s The Function of Ornament – a self-described ” graphic guide to ornaments in the twentieth century” – with a second volume entitled The Function of Form. Over two and a half times the size of The Function of Ornament, in FOF Moussavi sets out to investigate the complex relationship established between form and function in modern / contemporary design – using the book’s introduction to both discuss various perceived historical relationships between form and function, and then to [essentially] argue that the actual relationship between form and function in architecture is in conflict with the dualistic view of modernism in the 20th century.

[Take that, Mies.]

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The vast majority of the book is then organized into chapters by material/structural system – with each chapter investigating the variations possible within each system. This is achieved by first identifying the ‘base units’ of the system to be explored, and then tessellating those base units in the horizontal, vertical, and curved directions. For instance, the first chapter looks at grids and frames – establishing the base unit of one-way frames as ‘composed of a rectangular grid of columns supporting a pair of primary, parallel beams along the column lines which in turn support secondary beams that span between them at much closer intervals than the centers of the columns’. This ‘base unit’ is then tessellated in the 3 directions, creating various permutations of the one-way frame – which are further organized by spatial affect.

S.R. Crown Hall at IIT by Mies is the first example given in the book, representing a one-way frame tessellated horizontally – and having the spatial affects of ‘openness, lightness, freedom, horizontality, and specularity’.

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The book goes on to investigate hundreds of variations of systems and their base units – providing a unique view of the relationship of form and spatial sensations and affects. FOF takes an in-depth look at the physical and atmospheric affects of each system, investigating the sometimes subtle differences in affects produced. The forms produced by each tessellated base unit are given a 2-page spread, with a simple 3d image meant to convey the spatial affects of the particular system on the left page – and a detailed description of the various components, including plan and axonometric drawings, on the right page.

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A must-have for any designer, The Function of Form makes for a tremendous resource as a reference when investigating possible forms/structural systems for a given project – allowing readers to quickly compare spatial quality and affects of various systems, while also providing reasonably in-depth explanations as to how these qualities are achieved by the different systems.

MNP_reviews-5of5

The Function of Form, by Farshid Moussavi – edited with Daniel Lopez, Garrick Ambrose, Ben Fortunato, Ryan Ludwig, and Ahmadreza Schricker
Published by Actar and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Available from Amazon.com for $26.37, here.

::Review copy of The Function of Form provided by Actar::

Posted: December 17th, 2009
at 11:40pm

Tagged with ,


Categories: architecture, books

Comments: 1 comment


NotM EASTERN design: Villa Saitan

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The architecture is covered with a wall in which holes are cut. The shape of the holes resembles a trunk, leaves, a root and bulbs. It also can be seen as clouds floating over the trees. The concrete shape which is based on nature turns into a hollow cave: light, and sunbeams filtered through trees.

It’s been a minute now since our last post on our current featured ‘Ninjas of the Month’ – EASERNdesign. Keeping the series alive, here is their Villa Saitan project – an 11 unit studio-apartment complex in Kyoto, Japan.

One of the major factors driving the project was EASTERNdesign’s desire to create a structure that was different from the repetitive, impersonal nature of a ‘typical’ apartment building. The goal was to wrap the units with a continuous facade that would give the appearance of one unified home. This was achieved by cutting through the concrete walls in a nature-inspired root/trunk/leaf pattern. Behind this think wall the units are enclosed by simple glass walls on the exterior – with the concrete walls serving as sun-shading and privacy device.

This concrete shell is then covered in some kind of OSB or fiberboard, softening the forms by giving them an almost fabric-like aesthetic.

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Another noteworthy aspect of the project’s layout is the public open space carved out of the ground floor of the building – linking the two sides of the site with a covered/protected external passageway. This inner pathway also connects to the owner’s yard, allowing him direct access to the apartment building’s facilities [which he manages himself].

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What does the name Saitan mean? Tan is the color of the shrine gates, vermilion. It is also the color of pale red granite stone. Vermilion will not be weathered. It is said that vermillion is a sacred color and it used to be applied on serving dishes and bow and arrow to make them holy ones. Sai means variety of beautiful colors that make something more attractive.

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What I really don’t understand is what exactly is going on with the facade shown above. I kind of like it for whatever reason, so it isn’t that – I just don’t see how it ties in to the curvy, nature-inspired front. It makes for an odd dichotomy that seems to give the building a kind of multiple personality disorder.

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EASTERN gives additional reason for the plant-like design of the concrete facade:

This land was once the site of NIshihachijo-palace, which was the residence of a hero of the Japanese classical tragedy, ‘Tale of Heike‘. It was a stage of rise and fall of a clan in the 12th century. Such an old and sad memory is cherished and still told among the people of this neighborhood.

The collective housing that is built on such a historical place should not be seen as an average apartment house. Such notion occurred to us, which might have led us to the idea of an ‘immortal tree.’

We, therefore, designed a building which does not take vaguely a shape of a tree, but rather an intense and massive form with a tint of movement.

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More images of this project can be viewed here, at AMNP’s Flickr page.

.:previous firm profile of EASTERN design office->

.:Slit House->

.:MON Factory->

::photographs by Kouichi Torimura::

::images, info + quoted text courtesy of EASTERN design office, Inc::

Posted: December 16th, 2009
at 4:44pm

Tagged with , , , ,


Categories: Ninjas of the Month, architecture, featured ninjas, housing

Comments: 2 comments


Quote of the Day

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You have to give this much to the Luftwaffe – when it knocked down our buildings it did not replace them with anything more offensive than rubble. We did that.

~ Charles, Prince of Wales [AKA 'Prince Chuckles' to ninjas]

Posted: December 15th, 2009
at 2:38pm


Categories: quote of the day

Comments: 2 comments


Ninjas on the ‘Net

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[image: map of the world as a near-continuous coastline, via BLDGBLOG]

I’m back, my ninjas! I wish there was some explanation worthy of my being absent from posting here for the past few weeks, but unfortunately I’ve got nothing. I suppose I’ve been ‘busy’ – or at least more so than I’ve been for the past few months – and that has kept me from the site. But the hiatus has come to an end, and the ninjas are back.

That said, I’ve got some interesting [to me, at least] news: in January I will start a 3 year term as a member of the editorial board of Architecture Boston. I’m not completely sure of how much influence that will grant me over the magazine, but I promise you this: something about ninjas will find its way into AB by 2013, so be on the lookout.

ANd this brings us to this week’s collection of links. As always, if you see anything on the web that you believe should be linked-to from AMNP [as part of Ninjas on the 'Net, the news sidebar, or as a full post] feel free to drop me an email at architecture@myninjaplease.com.

- a look at the Macallen Building in South Boston, by Office dA [A Daily Dose of Architecture]

- cracked-earth maps, flattening the globe [BLDGBLOG]

- parametric modeling vs sustainability in the schools? [Design Observer]

- adaptive fritting [Transmaterial]

- should the cul-de-sac be banned? (yes!) [NY Times Magazine]

- Beijing Watercube design copied for casino in Macau [Architecture&Design]

- Foreign Office Architects closing after partners split [bd online]

- minaret built in protest of new Swiss law [AFP]

- British pavilion for Shanghai Expo 2010 [designboom]

- architects trying to save Cuban architecture [LA Times]

- BIG at the Architecture League [Architecture League]

- building & the arts while the economy slumps [NY Times]

- St Albans shows the importance of the design of our schools [Washington Post]

- ACSA announces 2009-10 Arch Education Award winners [Architect]

- Lebbeus Woods on architect Balthasar Holz [Lebbeus Woods]

Posted: December 15th, 2009
at 2:35pm


Categories: Ninjas on the 'net

Comments: 1 comment


Ninjas on the ‘Net

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[Image: detail of Web Trend Map V 4.0, via]

Ed. Note: MNP was experiencing some technical difficulties on Monday, Nov. 30th. Our apologies.

Happy belated Thanksgiving! And for those of you who weren’t giving thanks for Europeans’ fairly ruthless conquering of the Americas this past week – happy Monday! AMNP is back after a week-long hiatus.

To really kick off your week, I advise you to go watch this video of interviews with people waiting in line for a Sarah Palin book signing [note to Palin fans: feel free to never visit AMNP again - I won't be offended]. Now, I don’t really mean to be insulting here, so all I’ll say is that it’s reminiscent of the Katie Couric interview – everyone in line loves Sarah, but nobody knows anything about her policies or political goals/agendas/whatever. She has apparently won them all over by being so spunky and mavericky.

Moving on to more relevant [I hope] things – here is AMNP’s weekly selection of archi-blogosphere linkage. As always, if you see anything on the web that you believe should be linked-to from AMNP [as part of Ninjas on the 'Net,? the news sidebar, or as a full post] feel free to drop me an email at architecture@myninjaplease.com.

Enjoy your week!

- holiday archi-book guide 2009 [Archidose: A Daily Dose of Architecture]

- the top 10 books of 2009 [Planetizen]

- a fellow blogger’s new home, and ‘monospace‘ [atelier a+d]

- Georgian mountainside cave dwellings, and a ‘plants without borders‘ interview [BLDGBLOG]

- Andels Hotel Lodz [The Cool Hunter]

- Aesop Store, Singapore [coolboom]

- Re:Vision Dallas: Entry 193: Forwarding Dallas [architecture lab]

- an optical illusion courtyard, possibly swallowing a tree [loud paper]

- bougie house boats [dornob]

- marking hazardous waste for the next 10,000+ years [mammoth]

- an Architectural Proposition for Sydney by (our ninja) Linda Bennett [archiCentral]

- an interview with Joseph Tainter, author of? The Collapse of Complex Societies [varnelis.net]

- concrete cloth [dezeen]

- lastly, don?t miss myninjaplease.com?s two newest features:A Dozen, and The Industry. Our ninja Kookiecrumbles has been hard at work interviewing artists and featuring their work as well as speaking to industry insider ? coming up with some great content that should not be slept on.

Posted: December 1st, 2009
at 1:15pm


Categories: Ninjas on the 'net

Comments: 3 comments


Ninja Arithmetic LXIII

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[solution: architecture + God (complex) = The Berg]

This week’s ninja math was submitted by AMNP reader Matt K. – who has been pretty consistently dropping great ninja math equations on us.

::To submit an idea for some ninja math, email us at ARCHITECTURE[at]MYNINJAPLEASE[dot]COM. For past entries, click on the Ninja Arithmetic category under archjutsu::

Posted: November 18th, 2009
at 8:00am


Categories: ninja arithmetic

Comments: 2 comments


Archi-Visualization – Rendering Styles

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These two images appeared over at WAN on Nov. 16th in an article entitled “Masterplanning Mumbai“, detailing a masterplan project for?Bombay Boulevard, Mumbai, that was recently awarded to BDP.

Now, I’m not looking to discuss the project itself really. Rather, I’d like to know what people think about the two different rendering styles employed by the firm for this one proposal. After the comments received regarding the stunning Farnsworth House images created by Peter Guthrie [which can be seen here], I’m curious to know how people feel about these renderings – neither of which photorealism [obviously].

Also, what do people think about these digital models that look like physical models? By which I mean images that make no attempt at looking like photorealistic representations of the final product – but which instead look like simple scale models of a project.

Furthermore, if you can produce something as rich, dynamic, and detailed as the sketch above, is something in the style of the rendering below necessary?

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.:actual article on this project->via WAN

Posted: November 18th, 2009
at 7:10am

Tagged with , ,


Categories: architecture, illustration

Comments: 4 comments


NotM EASTERN design: MON Factory

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[click images for larger view]

“House with Crest”

The holes are lined up on a cross shape. The hole is made on the architecture like the perforated line. This architecture is “House with Crest”. A light that penetrates into the architecture always moves and never stays. It is a symbolic spectacle. A light that goes through the hole is projected in a circle shape, moves unlimitedly, and never stays. Occasionally, it disappears, and it appears.

For our second installment of Ninjas of the Month: Eastern Design we have the MON Factory/House 8 in Kyoto, Japan. Completed in 2007, the 260 m2 project houses both a workshop of a traditional craftsman and his family home.

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The owner wanted a home that could accommodate his business – creating crests for traditional Japanese clothing – while keeping the living and work spaces distinct and separate. EASTERN’s solution was to raise the majority of the project off of street level, creating a parking area beneath the main structure of the building, with a storefront for the craftsman’s business on the street. The workspace is then directly above the shop, connecting the two spaces while making the actual workshop more private.

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The second level – with the workshop and living spaces – is divided by two courtyards into it’s primary parts, namely the workshop, the living room / kitchen area, and the bedroom, by two small courtyard spaces. Essentially, hallways run along both sides of the house [around these courtyards, which don't reach the perimeter of the building], connecting the various spaces. Get a better look at the plan in larger detail, here.

We “lift the one-storied house to the sky” to create calm interior space. It is lifted to 3m in the sky. The space under that is lent as a parking lot. The one-storied house lifted to the sky makes “two outside spaces placed among three inside spaces”. The wind and the light of nature gather from the sky into two outside void spaces. And that extends to three inside spaces.

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The only break in the exterior concrete walls of the building come in the form of a series of circular ‘holes’ – which speak directly to the circular shape of the tradition crests being made in the workshop.

Two street side walls overlap on “Mise (show/shop)” space from right and left as like the breast of the Kimono. The “breast” interior becomes the shop space. The circular holes made for a cross shape becomes a pattern that decorates the wall as a crest. The kinds of crests reaches 7000. Any complicated crest pattern is formed from circle.

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The workshop area and the living area are separated and also connected. The client and his daughter have such living style. The crest making is a delicate work and also a business work. It is quiet, and also busy. The drifting cloud is seen, and they finish working, and relax in the living room at the middle space.

The reflected light becomes an infinite line of light and extends into the darkness of twilight on both side window of the living room. And the dark becomes deeper. In this one-storied house lifted to the sky a night goes on like that.

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Next week we’ll be back with the next installment of this current ‘Ninja(s) of the Month’ feature, looking into the work of EASTERN design.

.:previous firm profile of EASTERN design office->

.:Slit House->

::photographs by Kouichi Torimura::

::images, info + quoted text courtesy of EASTERN design office, Inc::

Posted: November 17th, 2009
at 8:53am

Tagged with , , ,


Categories: Ninjas of the Month, architecture, housing, interiors

Comments: 1 comment