Thoughts and opinions on architecture, music and life
According to the Planning Portal, the Home Builders Federation has warned that policy uncertainties could lead to housing shortages. I think the point is, that it could lead to the slowing of mass housing production. This, I would say, is a good thing. Housing suppliers will have to look to the alternatives, which I consider much better: Continue reading ‘Pickles’ Plan for Planning’ »
The great Arts & Crafts figure William Morris once said “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Why should the same not be true of print? Continue reading ‘Print nothing that you do not know to be informative, or believe to be entertaining’ »
Anish Kapoor’s ArcelorMittal Orbit doesn’t look as though it will stand up. Why?
It’s all very well designing new age things which look like they won’t stand up so that they look interesting and tug at our inner senses of insecurity and make us feel excited but, honestly… why? Are we trying to continually unnerve the people of Britain and make them feel uncomfortable with the stability of their lives? Are we trying to show to other nations how unstable we are and that it wouldn’t take much to make our entire country come tumbling down if you just know which bit to target? Continue reading ‘Anish Kapoor’s ArcelorMittal Orbit’ »
In a previous article on Eldon Terrace, I commented on the state of repair of two terraced units on Woodhouse Lane, Leeds (or Eldon Terrace, although no such road really exists!) and that well-thought out development approaches would enhance the local area. Well, in this article, I want to give a bit of an update of what’s been happening since then.
Eldon Terrace
It was a number of years ago when I first was asked whether I would produce a website design for Nicholas Vanburgh Ltd, an architectural firm in mid-Norfolk specialising in historic architectural developments. The website project was put on hold whilst the company gathered content to put on the site. I produced a website design that worked and posted the contact page to the website so that the website wasn’t completely empty during construction.
It wasn’t until recently, however, that the website design came into the forefront again and I have been beginning working with the company to create a website design that suits their needs, both visually and practically. It needed to look professional and elegant, but not fussy, and to evoke the feeling of the company’s ethos, which is essentially that of respecting traditional design and construction whilst still pushing forward into the realms of the architectural unknown.
The barbershop group Head Row will be starting again this year. Here’s a general overview of what the group is about: Continue reading ‘Head Row 2009/2010’ »
I haven’t finally decided yet, but I’m thinking of re-establishing Head Row when I return to Leeds next year. It would be a completely new set of men and I may or may not sing with the group during performances, since when it continues, I won’t be there beyond next year. Continue reading ‘Return of the Heads?’ »
I have recently been elected as the Secretary of the Jazz and Blues Society at University of Leeds. Quite an achievement considering that those who were voting were in a different country to me and some had never met me. However, I had my introduction announced at the AGM and they obviously thought this evidence enough that I would be a good enough guy Continue reading ‘Secretary of Jazz and Blues Society’ »
I recently went back to researching something that I haven’t really looked into in a while. That is the proposed eco-town developments in the UK. There are 14 sites that have been identified as potential locations for new eco-towns and they are currently at the stage of a communities consultation. However, I’m largley disappointed by their running of it, part of the reason why I have neglected to push much further into the subject recently. Continue reading ‘Eco-Town have your say… or have your click, at least’ »
I usually skip over my online subscription to WAN – World Architecture News newsletter when it comes into my inbox each week, but something caught my eye this time, something that I’m always pleased to see in architecture news – “Dublin skyscraper development refused planning permission by local council”.
The refused proposal was for Jurys Berkeley Court, a multi-use redevelopment that would provide offices, residential apartments and leisure facilities. And oh, here’s a big surprise, both the developer and the architect are “disappointed”. Continue reading ‘Dublin skyscraper refused planning permission’ »
I have found that my course hasn’t put much of an emphasis on CAD skills during the first couple of years, which is a pity, since its such a commonplace tool in modern Architecture and Engineering. I believe it should be taught from the beginning and I’m glad that The University of Leeds is now doing this. However, I’m pleased that I had the opportunity to go to Penn State where I did a course on CAD which really brought me up to speed. They have the most up-to-date software and people with the skills to teach it. So, what did this course include? Well, first of all, the software covered was AutoCAD, Revit Architecture and 3ds Max Design. Continue reading ‘Portfolio: CAD’ »
Adobe Photoshop skills are useful in many modern professions, whether or not they are directly based around graphic design. My own proficiency with the program has grown out of a keen interest in graphic design, fantasy art and computing.
This series of images were created to demonstrate the lighting characteristics of a few spaces in the building that my group and I designed for a studio project at Penn State University. The project brief was to design a “Signature” building for the College of Engineering and therefore they wanted spaces which would speak out engineering, sustainable concepts and would include natural daylighting.
The election is over, and all the newspapers are hailing this historic moment when America elected an African-American as its next president.
However, let’s not blow this race issue out of proportion. It’s a great achievement of America to have overcome any racism left in them enough to elect an African-American president, but if anyone took that as an issue whilst voting, positive or negative, they are fools. Continue reading ‘Reflection on Election’ »
Ever since I first arrived at Leeds University, these two units on Woodhouse Lane have been derelict and bare. It’s time something was done about it.
The first thing that struck me about the architecture at Penn State when I first arrived was that any building was really really hard to date from its architectural style! Now, this is partly due to the fact that I am not very experienced in the history of architectural styles in the USA, but not exclusively. Continue reading ‘Architecture of Penn State’ »
A cappella is a lot bigger in the USA than it is in the UK. There are numerous groups at each university and they all compete in the many competitions, as well as performing their own events. It was this competitive nature that meant that I didn’t get into any of the groups that I auditioned for here at Penn State University.
Nevermind, eh. I’ll just have to start my own. So, tomorrow, Marvin and I will be meeting up to discuss the possibility of this new club. At last I might be singing again! Continue reading ‘A Cappella in the USA’ »
The 30th April saw the Annual Showcase 2008 of the Leeds University Union A Cappella Singers. The show also featured Head Row, whose first mp3 is featured on this website.
The show was fantastic, and the night was enjoyed by all, especially those of us who had put so much work into it and glad to see it go well. Continue reading ‘A Cappella Arrangement of Fat Bottomed Girls’ »
Hemp can grow naturally in the UK, is a valuable and sustainable product with thousands of known usages and doesn’t require huge amounts of fertiliser and pesticide. So why is very little of it grown? Continue reading ‘Hemp Growing in the UK’ »
On Friday night, I went to see the Swingle Singers live at the Lowry, Salford. Continue reading ‘Swingle Singers Review’ »
On 27th November 2007, Jazz and Blues Leeds presented their second concert of the academic year, featuring Nu York State and Ape.
I knew Nu York State would be good. I’ve seen them before, and they were good before, and I saw no reason why this gig would be any different. Well, not from the band’s point of view anyway. But it was different from my point of view, because I was one of a small group of enthusiasts known as Jazz and Blues Leeds who ran the gig! Continue reading ‘Nu York State Review’ »
Head Row is the name of a barbershop group that I am in in Leeds. It consists of 8 (up from the 6 we had last year) students at the university who are passionate about singing a cappella. This group is all male, although occasional female guest vocals have been used.
UPDATE 12th April 2009: To listen to Head Row, go to our myspace page. I have removed the mp3 of “For The Longest Time” which we recorded in May 2007 from this site but you can listen to the same recording on the myspace page.
