Urban Neighbourhood

High on London

The streets of London appear as a stop animation film, giving the viewer a taste of what the city looks like from above to a catchy soundtrack with great effect!

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This short film was filmed and produced start to finish in 12 hours by Matt Gosden and Rob Rackstraw.

Shot on an Olympus E-PL1.
Music by Matt Gosden

London cityscapes shot with kind permission of The Paramount Restaurant, Centerpoint Tower, London ( http://www.paramount.uk.net )

evil in your pants

sign found by our intrepid explorer Chris K on the outside of a church in Munich.

Notice the second one on the right…”NOT ALLOWED TO PUT HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS… THERE IS EVIL IN YOUR PANTS” haha classic!

The Red Chair

Concept art by Doug Williams

Power in ‘The Land of Giants’

“Like the statues of Easter Island, it is envisioned that these one hundred and fifty foot tall, modern caryatids will take on a quiet authority, belonging to their landscape yet serving the people, silently transporting electricity across all terrain, day and night, sunshine or snow.”

Choi + Shine Architects have come up with an innovative and artistic way for us to move power across the landscape by turning the massive power lines that cross our world into massive pylon figures that will become monuments in the landscape, rather then utilitarian towers.

I have long been a fan and advocate for monumental infrastructure. Consider your reaction to the great monuments that exist in our world at present and to those portrayed in film. Then consider your reaction to major infrastructure as an aesthetic object. To often the major structures that we use are utilitarian, strictly functional, visual pollution on the landscape. These are wasted opportunities for us to build structures that are a monumental testament to human creativity and show the beauty that we are capable of producing.

Like the statues of Easter Island, it is envisioned that these one hundred and fifty foot tall, modern caryatids will take on a quiet authority, belonging to their landscape yet serving the people, silently transporting electricity across all terrain, day and night, sunshine or snow.

The firm states that with only minor changes to current established steel-framed tower design, they have built a series of towers that are not only powerful and solemn, but also variable. This makes it possible for the figures to be shaped into different ‘poses’ which they suggest could be informed by the landscape around them. The manufacturing process is less complex then you think. With each pylon figure made from the same basic materials they can be assembled into a variety of positions simply by using different joints.

“Subtle alterations in the hands and head combined with repositioning of the main body parts in the x, y and z-axis, allow for a rich variety of expressions. The pylon-figures can be placed in pairs, walking in the same direction or opposite directions, glancing at each other as they pass by or kneeling respectively, head bowed at a town.”

Project Details.

Check out the project page at Choi + Shine Architects.