RESEARCH | ESSAYS
Summaries
Modular Design and Compact Living
We have collected a variety of projects which explore modular design and compact
living experiments. Some of these were realised, such as the Capsule Apartment
of Kisho Kurokawa.
These were collected on one hand as a reference to our future work, and the
other, to demonstrate that a lot of work has been already achieved. It is
intended this reference material also is to be used to provide new variants and
designs, with proper acknowledgment to work that has already been achieved.
Trading in Pleasure
From Commercial Necessity to Commercial Excess
There is a certain point in history where, trade challenges of cross Atlantic
trading, commercial competitiveness, throws up a change, which marks it is
proposed a significant shift in the issues of pleasure, the shift of the
technological developments and the demand for speed, in order to win,
significantly "nothing" is carried.
Within the economy of the desire for speed, there is a shift from carrying goods
(trading) to carrying nothing (pleasure), this shift marks the shift from
commercial necessity to commercial excess. The research explores the transition
of this shift, using the history of the Americas Cup, and looks at the modern
paradigm of "necessity" and "pleasure".
Mastering the Waves
Lessons from the Master Venetian Boatmakers
The research explores a single Gondola, and how it is possible to boat all day
and not break into a sweat, despite boating the weight of a Jaguar saloon car,
all day. The Venetian mastering of the waves, allowed a trading empire with
Alexandria to the Hanseatic League.
A Venetian boatmaker comes from an inherited tradition that crosses,
mathematics, engineering, naval architecture and craftsmanship. There were
significantly no drawings, to build the smaller boats, and often the master boat
maker was not "literate" in the way we understand it today, but they were able
to build highly complex, and engineered human powered vehicles. As an example a
boat could trade there was through a variety of sea conditions, e.g. trading
from Venice to Rotterdam, a two manned boat, could carry goods to and from the
great trading posts.
It is said that it is easier to build a Gondola than it is to draw one! This
research explores the challenge of this paradigm, and possible lessons for the
design / engineering / manufacturing industry of today. The research explores,
the technology, the proportionate systems, the technique of communication, form
and geometry .
Learning from Medieval Architecture
An exploration of Medieval Architecture
From Lahore, London, Jaipur, Palma, Cesky Krumlov, using examples of travels
undertaken by the author, a brief exploration of the significance of medieval
architecture and deriving lessons for a modern architecture. The essay loosely
explores the environmental, economic and social lessons learnt from evolutionary
architecture and its significance for future "masterplanning" strategies.
Strategies of Approximation and Strategies of Speculation
Ways of Resolution using approximation logic
A few years ago, a Brazilian Mathematics professor, significantly noted that
street children in Rio, were able to undertake very complex mathematical
calculations, despite being very young and "illiterate". She studied the
children and the immensely complex calculations, for example, "If you bought 9
goods worth 37units, would you be able to make enough money to divide amongst 7
people, with you having 50% more than your team mates, is this a good deal, as
compared to......" etc., the dynamic s of making sure that you understand
mathematics is a matter of survival.
The study of these children revealed, complex calculations are processed through
a series of "approximations", so 9 is less than 10 but more than 5, 37 less than
50 but more than 30, 7 is less than 10 but more than 5 , by "rounding up" or
"rounding down", you will all ways be in the right area, and by processing a
further rounding up or down, it is possible to arrive at a degree of accuracy,
which a conventionally taught child (or adult) will either shy away from the
calculation or have disastrous accuracy rates (we teach mathematical knowledge
slowly, I.e. we are not taught multiplication tables of 37).
Architectural projects require a series of complex processing, often
contradictory. The research explores the value of non-precise logic and
strategies of approximation and its possible relevance in teaching architecture,
and processing complex architectural and masterplanning projects.
Predictive Processes and Scientific Speculation
The role of learning methods in evaluating strategic methodologies
Within the demands of predicting the future, this research looks at a range of
predictive processes, that inform the current demand for understanding relevant
and critical "change" strategies. The research outlines current strategies from
a range of discourses, commercial, social, technological, ecological and
environmental, to understand how experts are undertaking predictive strategies.
An evaluation of "evolutionary" or "genetic" logarithmic ["self-learning"]
methods are studied, and there possible applications.
The Rise and Fall of Successful Cities
Urbanisation: A historical Perspective of Urbanisation
This research looks at the notion of the city in "crisis" from a historical
perspective, the city in rapid expansion or rapid contraction. A range of cities
are seen from the notion of their dynamic of "rise and fall". The study looks at
a variety of perspectives and examples within historically significant criteria,
The Ancient, The Renaissance, The Industrial Revolution, New Worlds, Digital
Cities. Particular concerns of the interconnectivity of cities and the issues
that allow growth and create decline. The research also looks at the current
mechanisms of "regeneration".
Cross over Technologies, Materials and Processes
An overview
A brief evaluation of crossover technology, materials and processes from a
variety of different disciplines i.e. naval architecture, aeronautics,
automotive, composite structures, military technology. The research catalogues
and looks at previous attempts to relate the architectural desire to be inspired
by other industries, an pulls together summarized evaluations of differences and
similarities, the research hence becomes an effective tool to explore what
issues are required for differing projects. In reverse it also looks at the
these crossover possibilities and their place in architecture.
The Inventors: Jean Prouve, Frei Otto and Buckminster Fuller
The Heroic Invention of Modernity
A comparative study of three of the most influential practitioners in the
twentieth century, and the relevance of their pioneering spirit. From invention
and inspiration to implementation. A mapping of the spirit of Prouve, Otto and
Fuller, and their traceable influence on current thinking, and current practice.
Nothing is New But What is Forgotten
The amnesic qualities of the creative industries
This study critically looks at the way ideas are brought into to education and
publishing, and the consistent obscuring about the legacies and origins of ideas
and original thinkers. This is most marked in art, architecture, fashion, film
and design, not surprisingly, as these are now referred to as the "creative
industries". This study tries to show examples of this amnesic plagiarism, and
attempts an analysis of its effects on education, institutions and practice.
Protagonists
the character and the city
an exploration of how space can be understood through "characterisation" of
protagonists
and their role in creating the built environment.
Transitions and Transformations
erotic movement through the eye
A personal visual exploration of movement and space
Other Research...
City Projections
The City as an urban projection into the future, from Metropolis and Blade
Runner
Mythologies and the City
The City and House as a Reflection of Self
Futurology: A Retrospective
Science Fiction and Social Projection
Big Ideas that changed the 20th Century
Overpopulation, and Urban Expansion
What did the Future Look Like?
The visual representation of the future.
The Parallels of Making a Film, Lessons to Architecture:
From Storyboarding, to Distribution,
Simultaneous Strategies
Merits of a symbiotic approach in creating urbanity.
MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON
Meanwhile please contact us directly for more information
london@AzharArchitecture.com
