Authenticity and the Facade of Surface

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paniek/274823200/

What you see is not necessarily what you get! Images, information, fashion, media are all complicit in the surfaces that you see. The world of the flattened image is mistaken for reality. Much like the facades of Hollywood's old Western sets, the full view is determined by your vantage point. It looks great from the street but not so believable from the back.
In truth, as our lives become more complex and we are increasingly bombarded by information, it becomes more difficult to get three dimensional perspective. There is not enough time to explore anything in detail. Everything becomes a Wikipedia entry culminating in an increased quantity of information but with a distinct lack of awareness. Taste is subsumed in the flavour of the day. Last months fad is so dated compared to this months fad. At some point you have to ask, 'what is the value of this?"

I can see in the near future that  there is the potential for a backlash. One can already see it in the "slow movement" and other similar social movements that seek to question our current social situation. These movements stem initially from a crisis of authenticity. There is so much information that it clogs the drain and it becomes problematic to separate the wheat from the chaff. One has to step back, take a deep breath, establish what one values and throw the rest away. It is necessary to create subjective clarity as well as objective clarity.

I have used the notion of surface metaphorically but if you think of the reality, we are bombarded by the surface in its most literal sense. TV, computer, and even wall paper are all deceptions or masks of the reality. I was reading an article in an Interior Design magazine forecasting what the hot new colours are going to be this year. When you think about it, it is not quite like the weather! There is no legitimate fact to base an assumption on. Hot colours can only be analyzed after the fact as a cultural phenomenon. What is the weatherman of colour basing his analysis on?

The truth is lost in opinion. So lets collectively get up and  push a quantity of infomation aside and apply some quality judgement to our situation. Learn to appreciate what is important to you and follow your creed. Use that unlimited source of information wisely and try and do something positive with it!

Twitter As An Architectural Environment

Where are you when you spend all that time at the keyboard? Supposedly you are sitting in your chair but I have a hunch that you are somewhere else completely. Not unlike reading a book, Twitter is creating a world for you, that is not in the physical world. However, unlike a book, other people are in there with you, which means that you are being engaged in your imagination. This is a fairly sizeable leap of perception. Yet we are so used to being in our imagined realm that we hardly notice any distinction and overlook the difference.

Clearly we are at the beginning of Twitters history and technological advances. As much as I am a Twitter junkie and fanatic I have to say that the interface is very disappointing and limiting. I cannot really engage with people I meet all over the world because I am really in a glorified chat room. Being able to engage in other peoples ideas keeps me coming but I cannot actually engage them.

A number of years ago, "Second Life" had a brief surge in popularity and then promptly fizzled. The idea of  "Second Life" was that you as a person, had a digital avatar, that could enter into cyberspace and participate in digital environments. The avatars were simple and cartoon like and consequently were not that appealing. The environments were slow and complicated and difficult to use. However, from my architectural viewpoint the whole idea was exceedingly fascinating.

I can see that Twitter has power much beyond Facebook because it draws like minded people together as opposed to like people. There is a whole world out there that I didn't know existed and they didn't know mine. At some point there will be a requirement for people to meet in cyberspace to share ideas. There will be the opportunity to create environments, unlimited by any laws of physics, that we can explore. At some point they will mesh with our physical realms as part of our daily experience and Twitter and other social medias will have their own architectural environments. Welcome to the Twitterscape!

The Renovation project - How does it work ?

The Renovation Project - How does it all work?

The above graphic shows the typical process for a homeowner doing a major renovation. Although many of the professionals and subtrades may not be required for your particular project it is important to get a sense of the complexity of the project. Both the architect/designer and the general contractor are keys to the process for they have the resources and contacts required to provide all the professionals and the subtrades to make your project a success. For further information please see our website at www.penumbradesign.ca

Vancouver is getting ready for the big earthquake - are you?

Recent events in San Francisco and Seattle reinforce the need for awareness around earthquakes and being prepared is key. Efforts have been made in the community to provide a system of emergency services and preparing an adequate response in the case of emergency. However, these measures can only go so far to protecting you and your family. It is incumbent on all households to get a plan together because in the event of "the big one" , time will be up and where will that leave your family.

Earthquakes are happening all around us. Natural Resources Canada publishes a list of recent earthquake events and we can see that via their website (http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/recent/2010/index-eng.php.) how often they occur. Vancouver, with its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to earthquakes. Although it has been almost 300 years since the last cataclysmic earthquake in the area, Vancouver is now overdue.

Given its topography, the Lower Mainland's emergency response could be very limited. Although the provincial governments emergency response system has prepared and implemented a full strategy, it is possible that the results of a major earthquake would leave the infrastructure in Vancouver devastated. The main issue would revolve around the collapse of bridges and the inability of first responders to get to required locations. Many of the bridges that criss-cross our waterways would be devastated.

Consequently, it is even more important that households have a plan for themselves. As most of our homes are woodframe, this does help. Wood frame structures are much more effective in an earthquake than a concrete one. Concrete and masonry work great in compression (ie. when it is holding steady against gravity), however in tension and under lateral loads it is poor unless it is adequately reinforced with steel. Wood structures on the other hand have a certain flexibility that renders them safer in an earthquake.

When planning always remember that the majority of problems are caused by falling objects. This is why you should always try to get under a table to shield yourself from falling debris. Quite often the shaking will displace the furniture, so try and hold on to it and remain under it. Other things you should consider when coming up with a family plan.

1. Ensure that you have a family emergency plan with meeting points and out of town contact numbers.
2. Do you have an adequate emergency kit. 
3. Ensure your house is properly anchored to the foundation.
4. Ensure any utilities especially water heaters are anchored to the building.
5. Ensure that any tall furniture (bookcases, dinettes etc.) are anchored to the wall.
6. Know the evacuation routes out of your community and understand the community emergency plan.
7. Determine whether you are in a high risk area? Silt beds and river deltas pose particular risk due to silt liquefaction.
8. Do you have any first aid training in the house? If not get some.