Image courtesy of The Telegraph
Friday 29 April 2011
Thursday 28 April 2011
Personal Development Plan (PDP) - Overview
The deadline for the Focus module is almost here, having spend a number of hours trying to experience as much as I could throughout the year I just cannot believe it is coming to a close. Not only the Focus module but my overall portfolio commences within the next few weeks. Every week i'd think about whether I have learnt enough, could I have planned better of even visited more exhibitions. Here what I thought of my experience.
Focus Week 1 I tried to motivate the landscsape animal inside of me by visiting many existing landscape projects: that range from commercial, public and residential area. This was an awakening, it provided me with the inspiring steps to start my year and made me aware of whats at stake (Degree). In this week I developed an understanding of what is expected and gathered this knowledge through the use of basic computer skills such as how to plot scaled maps from digimaps into AutoCAD, a base line for every landscape architect as a student needs to master. Coherantly I began to read a book "Detail in Contemporary Landscape Architecture", which provided me with the understanding of how much I needed to develop my designs for my third year.
Then came Focus Week 2, A week which I had set out to discover the software expert that I intend to be. This week consisted of non stop software learning session hosted by myslef, to improve my current skills and develop them further. I really got the hang of Vectorworks modelling software and this aided me into developing my abstract model for first semester. The highlight of this week had to be vising a friend and former student of kingston university Ben Smith, He showed me the work he carried out in his Oxford home in the Summer of 2010. He showed me how he constucted it and the methods he used.
Focus Week 3 I looked forward to, there were many lectures being held at out campus. The professional talks held were amazing, influencial and motivation. It proves staying with your intrests will get you far in life, having heard some of their influenced inspired me to believe that anything is possible. It was also a week that reminded me of the time when I was in secondary school in the Design Technology class, Amodels inspired me to confront my designs in a way of abstract. A very useful week in terms of learning from other peoples experiences.
Focus Week 4, is one that I couldn't miss out on, Ecobuild! An event that Ed is always pressuring me to attend and this year I finally went, a very productive week started by vising exhibitions, then attendind Ecobuil and rounding it off with more exhibitions. Having visited Ecobuild I wish that there was more to do with landscape as I'd felt partly led down with its initiative in Ecobuild, all there were was solar lighting companies and loads of arhcitect based companies and lectures. Although I managed to incorporate some arhchitect based lecture into landscape. This week by far I was most productive in I'd manage to vist the Design Museum, attend 3 days at Ecobuild, visit the London Street Photography exhibition and the Pioneers of Downtown Event at the Barbican.
Although this was then close of Focus, I'd wish I could have done more, been more porduction, learn't more skills and developed my landscape studies further. I have noticed that for each week I could have planned better and split each week into categories such as a week for Reading, Software uses, Exhibitions, Events and a week for visiting more landscape established designs.
However I believe that a have fulfilled a large gap in my studies in Lanscape and also would love to do this all again, continue to visit more exhibitions and galleries to inspire us as designers.
Focus Week 1 I tried to motivate the landscsape animal inside of me by visiting many existing landscape projects: that range from commercial, public and residential area. This was an awakening, it provided me with the inspiring steps to start my year and made me aware of whats at stake (Degree). In this week I developed an understanding of what is expected and gathered this knowledge through the use of basic computer skills such as how to plot scaled maps from digimaps into AutoCAD, a base line for every landscape architect as a student needs to master. Coherantly I began to read a book "Detail in Contemporary Landscape Architecture", which provided me with the understanding of how much I needed to develop my designs for my third year.
Then came Focus Week 2, A week which I had set out to discover the software expert that I intend to be. This week consisted of non stop software learning session hosted by myslef, to improve my current skills and develop them further. I really got the hang of Vectorworks modelling software and this aided me into developing my abstract model for first semester. The highlight of this week had to be vising a friend and former student of kingston university Ben Smith, He showed me the work he carried out in his Oxford home in the Summer of 2010. He showed me how he constucted it and the methods he used.
Focus Week 3 I looked forward to, there were many lectures being held at out campus. The professional talks held were amazing, influencial and motivation. It proves staying with your intrests will get you far in life, having heard some of their influenced inspired me to believe that anything is possible. It was also a week that reminded me of the time when I was in secondary school in the Design Technology class, Amodels inspired me to confront my designs in a way of abstract. A very useful week in terms of learning from other peoples experiences.
Focus Week 4, is one that I couldn't miss out on, Ecobuild! An event that Ed is always pressuring me to attend and this year I finally went, a very productive week started by vising exhibitions, then attendind Ecobuil and rounding it off with more exhibitions. Having visited Ecobuild I wish that there was more to do with landscape as I'd felt partly led down with its initiative in Ecobuild, all there were was solar lighting companies and loads of arhcitect based companies and lectures. Although I managed to incorporate some arhchitect based lecture into landscape. This week by far I was most productive in I'd manage to vist the Design Museum, attend 3 days at Ecobuild, visit the London Street Photography exhibition and the Pioneers of Downtown Event at the Barbican.
Although this was then close of Focus, I'd wish I could have done more, been more porduction, learn't more skills and developed my landscape studies further. I have noticed that for each week I could have planned better and split each week into categories such as a week for Reading, Software uses, Exhibitions, Events and a week for visiting more landscape established designs.
However I believe that a have fulfilled a large gap in my studies in Lanscape and also would love to do this all again, continue to visit more exhibitions and galleries to inspire us as designers.
Tuesday 26 April 2011
A HARRY POTTER TREE - Irvine, California
An inspiring touch from naturally formed tree, It is located next to Disneyland!
Wednesday 20 April 2011
Sunday 17 April 2011
Lakeside Shopping Centre
Lakeside shopping centre holds over 300 stores all under one roof , 13000 free parking spaces, and a nearby retail park. Lakeside was celebrating their 21st birthday with a fashion show event. It was an oppotunity for me to visit the East of London especially when they were celebrating. To be honest there wern't many landscape attractions but their architicture side was fascinating.
Monday 11 April 2011
Management Plan
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BzGgS8wZ7jK0ZTAxNTI2ZGMtMTMzOC00N2MxLTlmYjMtNjFlYWRhYWJhNzYy&hl=en&authkey=CPiGxI0E
Thursday 17 March 2011
Richmond Park Visit
Richmond Play Area
Another option to consider for my management plan module, this park is co-incidently the largest in England, London. The were many options with richmond park, because of its size it boasts two children's play areas, two golf courses, dozens of rugby pitches and many other areas. A strong contendor!
Tuesday 15 March 2011
Design of the Year WINNER!
And The 2011 Winner goes to Samuel Wilkinson // Hulger, for designing the PLUMEN engery effiecient light bulbs. A good intervention but I was really hoping the Tape Installations.
Other winners include on categories are:
Category Winners:
Brit Insurance Architecture Award
OPEN-AIR-LIBRARY MAGDEBURG
Brit Insurance Fashion Award
UNIQLO +J AUTUMN/WINTER’10
Brit Insurance Furniture Award
BRANCA
Brit Insurance Graphics Award
HOMEMADE IS BEST
Brit Insurance Interactive Award
Brit Insurance Product Award
PLUMEN 001
Brit Insurance Transport Award
BARCLAYS CYCLE HIRE
Friday 11 March 2011
Kingston Hill Visit
I went to visit Kingston Hill Campus part of the Kingston University, as an option for my management plan module, whilst walking around I had never noticed some areas before. There were many interesting points about the landscape management at the Hill, I had to consider this as an option.
Friday 4 March 2011
Focus Week 4 - The Barbican - Pioneers of the Downtown Scene New York 1970s
These arts scenes were taking in the developing centre of Manhatton during the 1970s. With musician Laurie Anderson, performance artist, artist Gordon Matta-Clark and choreographer Trisha Brown were all friends and active in the involvement of the New York art community. They concentrated on the practical and daring approaches with photos taken from dancing on roof tops and accessing abandoned buildings. This small group focused on performance and arts.
Also at the exhibition by a variety of programmes with talks, performaces and events.
The dance pieces shown are immense and are not usually considered as dance, however it kept me engaged. It is probably related more towards a artistic dance fashion with no elements on the canvas.
The only negative side is that the exhibition costs £8.
Museum of London - London Street Photography
NO PHOTOGRAPHS WERE PERMITTED!
The street photographs hold a strong stance on colouring, each photograph has been choreographed and is no natural, although all photos taken had a purpose to define the exploration of the developing city of London. Even though they portray then in a element of chance or very fortunate to capture such innovations.
A great exhibition on photography and each individual photograph is proportioned exceptionally well and the timing is superb.
Thursday 3 March 2011
Focus Week 4 - EcoBuild! Day 3
The third and final eventful day came, tired to the previous days I was looking forward to a few seminars and events I had my eyes on.
I started the day by going to a few back to back session about lighting and ended the day going to a programme that was intended for entrepeneurs with a study about green construction involving small scale buinessses. However I was once again frustrated by the fact that almost everything was relating towards ARCHITECTURE. There were many other flaws including the amount of SOLAR's on exhibits, the majority of exhibits were of solar panels
I started the day by going to a few back to back session about lighting and ended the day going to a programme that was intended for entrepeneurs with a study about green construction involving small scale buinessses. However I was once again frustrated by the fact that almost everything was relating towards ARCHITECTURE. There were many other flaws including the amount of SOLAR's on exhibits, the majority of exhibits were of solar panels
Wednesday 2 March 2011
Focus Week 4 - EcoBuild! Day 2
As I arrived on the second day of the event I noticed that there wans't many seminars on the Landscape topic. Although I managed to find a few though my day.
While walking around I found an event on climate chanfe while focusing on "Green Belts - a Greener Future". The main purpose was concentrating again of the effects of carbon dioxide, focusing on the subject of cities to consume less energy and to mitigate the effects of climate control and holds an indepth study of different strategies to correspond with carbon dioxide.
After walking around for about two hours, I noticed that there were many exhibitions on solar energy - therefore this would be a good buiness to be involved in as it is a new and upcoming focus on a greener lifestyle. Solar panel is used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate electricity supply in residential ot corporate properties.
I then went on to the seminar on "Lighting, Colour and Behaviour", I was keen to attend this one as I had tried to place lighting in passed projects but always didnt come off as a great concept, so I was engaged into the topic beforehand. Even though it's main focus was on the interior of buildings I had learn't that many ways to interpret lighting in projects, but purposed to reduce the amound of energy used and also to reduce electricity bills. So not was I was looking for!
I ended the day with back to back sessions about "Green roofs" and "walls that grow"
These two topics were the closest to landscape I had been to all day, It reflected on architecture once again, it's sole purpose is focused on waterproofing a building and contributing towards biodiversity. Green roofs are represented to ruduce urban temperatures and to gain a Surface water credit known as SUR1. Even though I did'nt learn much on this day it gave me an insight on architecture, not only that how I can incorporates Green walls and buildings in future projects to reduce temperatures.
While walking around I found an event on climate chanfe while focusing on "Green Belts - a Greener Future". The main purpose was concentrating again of the effects of carbon dioxide, focusing on the subject of cities to consume less energy and to mitigate the effects of climate control and holds an indepth study of different strategies to correspond with carbon dioxide.
After walking around for about two hours, I noticed that there were many exhibitions on solar energy - therefore this would be a good buiness to be involved in as it is a new and upcoming focus on a greener lifestyle. Solar panel is used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate electricity supply in residential ot corporate properties.
I then went on to the seminar on "Lighting, Colour and Behaviour", I was keen to attend this one as I had tried to place lighting in passed projects but always didnt come off as a great concept, so I was engaged into the topic beforehand. Even though it's main focus was on the interior of buildings I had learn't that many ways to interpret lighting in projects, but purposed to reduce the amound of energy used and also to reduce electricity bills. So not was I was looking for!
I ended the day with back to back sessions about "Green roofs" and "walls that grow"
These two topics were the closest to landscape I had been to all day, It reflected on architecture once again, it's sole purpose is focused on waterproofing a building and contributing towards biodiversity. Green roofs are represented to ruduce urban temperatures and to gain a Surface water credit known as SUR1. Even though I did'nt learn much on this day it gave me an insight on architecture, not only that how I can incorporates Green walls and buildings in future projects to reduce temperatures.
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Focus Week 4 - EcoBuild! Day 1
Ecobuild 2011 has been contructed to be the biggest ever as it is now in a new location of London's ExCeL. The number of exhibitors have increased this year to over 1300 and is aimed to be double trouble compared to the previous year.
Ecobuild aim to focus on areas of sustainable design and construction, and to be a catalyst towards a low carbon built environment and plan to make the country the greenest.
When I visited Ecobuild I noticed that the main exhibitors attending was those of buisness interest, they seemed to be involved into the construction and technological side.
Ecobuild was split into a three day event with different seminars each day.
The priority of Day one was "Sustainability" and "Energy".
I started the day by attending a lecture about living walls, although being confused by the amount of imformation that was being digested was of BEES, A great start realising that I was on the wrong side of the lecture room I had attended a lecture on Bees and there living and was too embarrassed to leave. The main aspects of this lecture were Bees in the types of hives, urban beekeepers, bee hotels, and communtity beekeeping. This topic reminded me of the airplot competition project. WHOOPS!
Seing as I missed the beginning of the living walls seminar I decided to attend the last ten minutes of living walls. There focus was based on installation systems and maintenance oppotunities for planting taking account of water usage.
I then stopped at the seminar "Demonstrating 2050 in 2015", the title itself engaged me to it, seeing it was about the future we are planning for. Outlining prospectives for 2050 were mainly based on population increase from 6 to 10 billion, Climate Change (Couldnt leave that out could they) - adaption and mitigation, Reducing carbon dioxide emissions, manufactoring and a Built Environment.
This topic really had me thinking of how a few sustainable process as easy as recyling can benifit the world for OUT future. There were many in depth proposals of community based sustainability.
After lunch I resumed to the intake on seminars by attending sessions back to back on "What is sustainable material" and "Innovation in sustainble materials". I felt that these two seminars held information that can develop my study further.
From the first of the two I got the information that sustainable materials consisted of dry wall stoning, rammed earth, traditional carpenting and lime rendering.
Followed on from this seminar was the study on how they are used, many materials were used for the purpose of buildings, landscape and furniture.
I finished the day by walking around and seeing exhibitions of Ecobuild.
Ecobuild aim to focus on areas of sustainable design and construction, and to be a catalyst towards a low carbon built environment and plan to make the country the greenest.
When I visited Ecobuild I noticed that the main exhibitors attending was those of buisness interest, they seemed to be involved into the construction and technological side.
Ecobuild was split into a three day event with different seminars each day.
The priority of Day one was "Sustainability" and "Energy".
I started the day by attending a lecture about living walls, although being confused by the amount of imformation that was being digested was of BEES, A great start realising that I was on the wrong side of the lecture room I had attended a lecture on Bees and there living and was too embarrassed to leave. The main aspects of this lecture were Bees in the types of hives, urban beekeepers, bee hotels, and communtity beekeeping. This topic reminded me of the airplot competition project. WHOOPS!
Seing as I missed the beginning of the living walls seminar I decided to attend the last ten minutes of living walls. There focus was based on installation systems and maintenance oppotunities for planting taking account of water usage.
I then stopped at the seminar "Demonstrating 2050 in 2015", the title itself engaged me to it, seeing it was about the future we are planning for. Outlining prospectives for 2050 were mainly based on population increase from 6 to 10 billion, Climate Change (Couldnt leave that out could they) - adaption and mitigation, Reducing carbon dioxide emissions, manufactoring and a Built Environment.
This topic really had me thinking of how a few sustainable process as easy as recyling can benifit the world for OUT future. There were many in depth proposals of community based sustainability.
After lunch I resumed to the intake on seminars by attending sessions back to back on "What is sustainable material" and "Innovation in sustainble materials". I felt that these two seminars held information that can develop my study further.
From the first of the two I got the information that sustainable materials consisted of dry wall stoning, rammed earth, traditional carpenting and lime rendering.
Followed on from this seminar was the study on how they are used, many materials were used for the purpose of buildings, landscape and furniture.
I finished the day by walking around and seeing exhibitions of Ecobuild.
Monday 28 February 2011
Focus Week 4 - Tower Hill
After a long day at the Design Museum viewing fascinating Designs, I was overwhelmed with the stunning view of the Castle on the way back and loved the surrounding Landscape.
Focus Week 4 - Design Museum - Drawing Fashion
Entrance to the Drawing Fashion Exhibition
NO PHOTOGRPAHS OF THE EXHIBITIONS WERE PERMITTED
In this Exhibition I wasn't expecting to find anything interesting at all, however there were a bunch of sketching of fashion clothing that relates from the unique collections dating from the present all the way back to 80's, 70's, 60's, 50's and 40's. Present illustrations included work from Chanel, Dior, Comme des Garçons and Poiret as well as Viktor & Rolf, Lacroix and McQueen.
NO PHOTOGRPAHS OF THE EXHIBITIONS WERE PERMITTED
In this Exhibition I wasn't expecting to find anything interesting at all, however there were a bunch of sketching of fashion clothing that relates from the unique collections dating from the present all the way back to 80's, 70's, 60's, 50's and 40's. Present illustrations included work from Chanel, Dior, Comme des Garçons and Poiret as well as Viktor & Rolf, Lacroix and McQueen.
Focus Week 4 - Design Museum - Design of the Year Exhibition
Fiat 500 Alongside the Engine
PLUMENS Energy Saving Light Bulbs
YikeBike
Dysons Blade-Less Fans
Wall Piercing
SAYL Office Chair
Laddakh Commonwealth Peace Pavilion and Classroom Initiative
Open Air Libary Magdeburg
Entrance to the exhibition floor
The Brit Insurance Design Awards
Also known as "The Oscars of the Design World"
As I visited the museum I expected to see designs of wonders, but everything I had thought of wasn't there, however there were exceptional designs that I could never had put together.
There were many designs that characterized of architecture, fashion, furniture, graphics, interactive, products and transport.
The intermix of designs set me amazed of what was developed, whether the designs were practical or just looked phenomenal. On the Jury was Stephen Bayley and Janice Blackburn OBE, Mark Follow, Pro Vice-Chancellor of KINGSTON UNIVERSITY PENNY SPARKE and Simon Waterfall co-founder of digital agency Poke.
A few of the mouth watering designs are:
Renault DeZir
Fiat 500 MultiAir Engine
GM EN-V
Riverside Hydrogen
Yike Bike
Barclaycard Cycle Scheme
Vanmoof No.5
Seed Cathedral
Diamond Coffin
ANGRY BIRDS (as you all know)
Pavegen's Paving Slab
Dysons range of Air Multiplier Blade-less fans
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