tantramar

Brand's Buildings

This is an old picture of Stewart Brand from 1961. Over the last week I've been watching his How Buildings Learn TV series. It's an old BBC series from 1997. I don't know how I discovered it, probably through this guy, or this guy.

It's a really nice series of six shows about the various ways buildings change and grow over time. Growing via natural rhythms of interactions with humans more than erosion or physical extensions.

It has great stories littered throughout the 6 episodes and vastly improved my week. Brand has the best delivery of almost any documentary narrator I've heard, poignant, thoughtful and rhythmic.

The series is based on his book in the same vein if you fancy a read. Brand also created the Whole Earth Catalog, which I wrote about here. Here's the first episode of How Buildings Learn. Enjoy.

Mad About Maps

I'm fascinated by mapping. One of our ways of defining ourselves in our world physically, emotionally and metaphysically. Maps mean so much and so little at the same time. They are a mind boggling thing to study and so it was pleasure I watched Parag Khanna's TED talk about political mapping with great interest, explaining how borders are changing and why.

Also on the mapping front Paula Scher (work below) is giving a D&AD lecture shortly in London. I love maps and hand draw text so clearly I'll be there in the front row!

Talking Up

Last Saturday I attended and talked at a mini Lift conference.

Lift is a series of events built around a community of pioneers who get together in Europe and Asia to explore the social implications of new technologies.

I was talking at a Lift @ Home event. These are events organised by previous Lift speakers who want to hold mini get-togethers in various locations. The London one was hosted by Felix Koch, and I have to say he did an excellent job of pulling together a diverse bunch of speakers. Topics ranged from craft in architecture, cycling in London to the science of knowledge (sort of) and the making of your own humus, to name a few.

I can't give a detailed run through because I was listening intently and not taking notes... sorry. Priyanka did a little write up over here.

If anything else emerges I'll add it in...