Friday, 24 February 2012

Dutch Engineering close to home


Fairview Park, Dublin. Built on reclaimed land designed by Dutch Engineers circa 1930s.  In October 2011  Dublin experienced extreme flooding due to combination of  high tides and a months rainfall in one day.

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Part Deux

So I am  now into my 2nd Term and its been tough going so far. So taking a deep breath before I embark on the course commitments,  I took time out and went to West 8 Event at Greenwich Uni.  I wondered around in the unlit campus  looking for the entrance to King William Court.  Can we get some Landscape Architects on to this please....

Wednesday, 7 December 2011

the evolution of Wood Wharf


Sketch up, photoshop and quark express..... Woodwharf evolution. It has a bit of a retro feel with the font and branding as I have always associated Canary Wharf with Gotham City......

 Wood Wharf 2 
quickly bolted together raw unfinished work for crit feedback

Wood Wharf 3
Hanging for final crit before competition submission

Wood Wharf 4
A couple of tweaks incorporating feedback

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Deadlines

Monday 5th was a crucial day it was a day that we were presenting our survey book and it was the day that I was also delivering my final garden history presentation on "Jellicoe and the Subconscious".  It was lovely that when I faced the audience that I noticed a number of people, Julia, Phil and Nathalie were smiling back and it really helped. (thank you guys if you read this)  Also reading some blogs that people who have stepped out of their comfort zone in presenting was very encouraging.

Friday 2nd I had my presentation on my dissertation and I had a meeting with Duncan Goodwin to get some more facts on Urban Heat Islands.  I found him very approachable and informative and I felt it was a very productive meeting. Though I left with more work. I have a fascination with pollarded London Planes and have been taking pictures of them over the years. (okay buy me an anorak)

Wednesday 30th found out the my map was staying in.

Tuesday 29th Uploaded final group document

Monday 28 Nov Team Presentation.  The presenters did a great job but the crit was tough. I have to say that I thoroughly admired Lissy for dealing with her bike breaking down at the blackwall tunnel, fixing it and then giving a brilliant presentation on Constructionism then going on and then delivering a presentation on precedents!

Sun 27th Nov Finished final section of group document worked till early hours and got less than four hours sleep. (bloody map! there has to be a better approach)

Friday 25 Nov submission of first draft on my dissertation.

So while I wait for the feedback on my dissertation,  its time to catch up on the illustrative notebook and work on my Eastbourne masterplan. I really need to do more reading and sketching.  I found it pretty tough going as I have been doing course work putting in long hours non-stop for weeks and I have given my very best. Though i am unsure if I can physically maintain this pace over a longer period. Its true I learnt a lot and my computer skills have moved on quite a bit in Sketchup, Photoshop and I can now add Indesign with a better understanding of graphic design composition...

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

The holy grail: genius loci and a doner kebab!

The last couple of days have gone in a blur.  Friday there was the presentation rehearsals.  I did the timing.  The team had done a lot of work compiling and consolidating vast amounts of data and still awaiting some sections. 

Amongst all this we looked for the meaning of genius loci and listened to various pieces of music searching  for the embodiment of Eastbourne.

I didnt leave uni till 9pm.    I put heart and soul into my section. Thinking of what Jamie said about limiting time. I feel maybe I need a better balance. However it is difficult to restrict the time when you are learning. I have racked up stupid hours on both woodwharf and eastbourne. 

Its no joke without a car, thankfully Nick dropped me to the high street.  I didnt like Eltham Station one bit.  The journey seem to take forever. I hadnt ate much, so faced with a long walk and no food in the fridge with only a chip shop enroute; I seriously contemplated a kebab....
  

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Eastbourne and everything else

 Ok now to wrap up Eastbourne.  I submitted in my piece of spatial character. I had a good chat with Paul who will be presenting this section, along with landscape character, materiality and flora and fauna.  I had thought I was 80% finished with Eastbourne until I spoke to Paula.  Ok so I need to do a bit more and it will push other stuff back further again.

Julia suggested that I introduce a bit of sketching into my portfolio.  So I have started to make more of an effort in that direction