architecture, birmingham, barcelona

It's been a while since I last posted anything about architecture, come to think about it, I don't think I have actually done a complete post dedicated to buildings, hopefully this may be the first.

Last week I received some very exciting news indeed. As some of you may know, I had applied for a postgraduate course in Barcelona at the IaaC. Well, after 7 months of waiting, course modification, course upgrades, emails and patience, I received an email saying that I had been successful in my application for the Masters of Advanced Architecture programme for 2007/08. To say the least, I was pretty chuffed. So I have just bought a laptop (macbook pro, convert) and have paid my deposit on the fees, and starting on October 1st I will be a full time student again, in Spain. Don't ask how this effects our cycle trip, we haven't fully worked that out yet (we still aim to finish it, but with a break over the northern winter, too cold to cycle anyway). we will keep you posted. Anyone got any good contacts in Barcelona, or want to come and visit?

Recently I have visited a couple of buildings that I have been meaning to get to for a while. We visited to the Laban Centre, by Herzog de Meurom. Pretty amazing building actually, great facade, but the day that we were there didn't do it justice. More interestingly was the internal space, with a ramped lobby space, bumpy handrail, concrete spiral stair and a diagonal skylight. As usual HdeM have masterfully organised simple elements to create a stunning space.

We also paid a visit to Birmingham, primarily to meet some long lost relatives that I have here, Horace & Mary, Dad's uncle and aunt, and their family. I must say that for a pair of 80+ year olds they did especially well to host us for a few hours. It was really nice to meet some family and see where my roots lie.

While there we paid a visit to the Selfridges store, by Future Systems. Bridgette described this as a blob of plasticine with hundreds of thumb tacks pressed into it, I think she was right. Like much of their work, this building looks like it has just landed from another planet, and sits completely out of context with its surroundings, including a great church. In it's defence, it is purely commercial architecture created to do one things, draw attention to itself, which it does admirably. Internally it is just like any other massive shopping mall (think Eastlands on steroids), with the end result being completely superficial and skin-deep.

I mentioned the family, so this wasn't purely about architecture, but I think it will be the closest thing to it for a while.

Pete.