Not so efficient devices ( a life before pocket devices and the latest software update)You never test the depth of a river with both your feet...

I had a life before email and social media nonsense.... 

Less distractions and more living...the ability to walk in a straight line uninterrupted (Lamp posts are best avoided by the way when walking and using ones mobile distraction device....) the ability to plan and build a Lego model in a full afternoon without a single distraction apart from stopping for a cup of well earn't tea. Can you remember a four hour stretch of simply enjoying the sunshine and the natural world... No I'm not going all soft . I am merely trying to think back to how life was and a quality of life prior to the onslaught of small gloss black devices that have become the new addiction....

Although I could have done with a ' communicator' or a ' phaser' from that well known science fiction series that is Star Trek. As that's what 'communicator' did. It allowed you to directly communicate. So when Kirk flipped it open with that wonderful noise and said ' beam me up Scotty'. Scotty did just that he didn't  then say sorry I can't hear you... did you mean beam you up now or later or where from and to?! He knew immediately because of the inflection in Kirks voice and there was no ' lost in translation' moment as by text or by email. All hail the ' communicator' or was that a pre cursor to a mobile phone....

I can do it slowly and gently wean myself off the 'drug' that is mindless software and technology...The lovely thing about this is now software geeks are ' inventing' software to allow you to manage your time better. Which is spent looking at and 'responding' immediately to a plethora of ' nonsense' email communications therefore freeing up your time and quite possibly your sanity.... So if you want to reach me just tap on the tin can with said string attached and then speak slowly and clearly after the tap.....what was that... 

It would appear that I'm not alone in my assumptions of what might be a reactionary regulation of the use of tech, email and handheld devices. It's possible we will evolve into not using it as much or not at all. I am not a Luddite or non tech savvy. In fact the opposite but I think I have come through the other side to an understanding or realisation that perhaps just because it's new or electronic that it will enhance my working or non working life. Which seems to have been firmly cemented together via small black seductive devices which have been designed to be the next 'must haves'.....

Apart from this I have realised that there is no down time only constant time... So I have now understood that my eyes are constantly looking at a screen of some sort. Straining to see in all sorts of  light and environments which perhaps I should concentrating on the screen in front me called the television. So now we're not just looking at one screen were looking at multiple screens our eyes multi strained. Therefore our brains struggling to process multiple and totally different subject matter as this goes into the evening are we able to ever switch off?

Will we in time develop larger thumbs or 'key' sized finger tips and will our eyes adjust to special focal lengths designed for optimum eye to screen resolution? Adapted for all kinds of screen viewing environments including in pitch darkness.

I can do it ......slowly and gently extract myself off the 'drug' that is of mindless software and 'essential' updates technology...So if you want to reach me just tap on that tin can with said string attached and then speak slowly and clearly after the tap.....what was that... Sorry I just can't hear you... Wonderfully...

And yes you have spotted that it's been posted on a blog from a handheld electronic device isn't that wonderfully ironic... It's the only way to reach out and heal the afflicted masses...

Subjects of previous blogs.....http://architectslifeandtimes.blogspot.co.uk

www.objectarchitecture.co.uk

Lego architect

Well growing up I spent most of my time trying to get to grips with making things in one shape form or another. I had first a set of lovingly crafted wooden blocks which all fitted into another wooden box on castors. So I learnt from an early age about visual representations of different sized blocks and shapes. These were all natural varnished blocks all well made by my Godfather who was an architectural model maker so I discovered much later.

By simply placing the different blocks on top of each other different objects emerged from the mass of block covering the floor. I am sure this was much to the dismay of my parents. Many happy hours were spent building many different things from towers, houses to cars, planes and automobiles. Building towers as high and as slender as possible before it fell over. Theres a fine limit there but its most satisfactory if you get it right as I soon discovered. These various structures varied from just buildings to successful and unsuccessful bridges spanning various imaginary canyons which Evel Knievel could jump with ease.

Suddenly one day I was introduced into these funny, small multi coloured and different sized blocks which all connected to each other in some way. This stuff was known as 'Lego'. Not that I was that interested in what it was called at the time. I just wanted to use it but after much play I grew to love the name also!

I soon discovered that these could be used to make a house on the larger green base plate. I think this was the first thing/model that I ever made to a set of instructions. It wasnt a complex model but very simple in its plan form and shape. I soon deviated from the instructions (almost immediately) and started adding various other parts to it and changing the plan.

The great thing then about Lego was that there wasnt that many 'kits' to build a specific thing as there are now. It was bought in packs which then allowed you to build anything you wanted. This is why it was so good! Well for me as it wasnt predetermined in what you could or had to build. I could use my imagination and developing skill to build whatever I wanted. The possibilities were endless and so were my Lego experiments! Once I got used to the different sizes of coloured blocks which went from a one block to eight block module. There were also linear versions of these blocks to enable other possibilities together with wheels and flat base plates. Then I could start to gain a better sense, a 'Lego sense' of how and what I could build.

There was a progression here though and looking back positively strange. In that before building anything I would sketch a plan or make a drawing of what I wanted to build. This was based on the 'bricks' I had available in my drawer now full of Lego. These sketches got more elaborate as my desire to try and build the perfect Lego 'Fab 1' Rolls Royce from 'Thunderbirds' unique as it has four wheels to the front and two to the rear. All credit and thanks to Gerry Anderson for hours of endless pleasure watching his fabulous 'Thunderbirds'. Whilst eating jam on toast and inspiring me to build the latest machine which came out of Thunderbird 2's pod to save the day.

The Lego modules were always called 'bricks' not sure if this had a bearing later in life but there we are. My eight module 'bricks' all seemed to be red for some reason. Although even though they were red it didnt seem to prevent a stray one finding my bare foot! So I adapted my sketches to suit the Lego parts and so at least then I knew I had a chance of building what I could draw. A skill which I have since used to great effect many times and in many ways to develop my ideas and projects.

In short you never out grow wooden blocks or your 'Lego Sense'. Have fun!

By the way Im secretly lusting after architectural Lego sets after seeing Frank Lloyd Wrights 'Robie House'. Which was proudly displayed in what looked like a 1930s wood and glass display counter in Paul Smiths Floral St store some time ago.... but thats another story....

www.objectarchitecture.co.uk

The nostalgic architects toolkit

Since I originally started in architecture when I was just 16. I trained old school style on the drawing board. It was a stand up drawing board and lovely old rotring ink pens. I used 120 grade tracing paper with either scotch masking tape or draughting pins to hold it in place. 

The thicker grade tracing paper allowed you more margin for error for scratching out with a razor blade. No delete buttons here just a draughters skill to minimise the error using his skill with the razor blade. 

So it was with time accumulated hand eye co ordination and skill which produced lovingly crafted drawings. Some how this process allowed a fuller and better understanding of what was being designed and drawn.

I learnt the skill of scale and proportion  and the draughters skill with the pencil and ink pen. At the same time learning how to mend the ink pens  ( mainly the clogged 0.25!) and fix the dye line machine!

I used the instruments like a surgeon uses his and I used a proper film SLR 35mm camera almost every day in my work.

The thick pencil providing my very first thoughts and ideas through thickly drawn lines on water colour paper. I became adept with the water colour brush and pencil in equal measure.

Interestingly I still try to use those time proven skills and hand crafted methods today. Even with the lovely shiny new computers and software they are still just a tool. Just like the pencil and paper but somehow the latter connect directly from my mind to the paper better than resistors and silicon chip architecture of today.

www.objectarchitecture.co.uk

the life and times

This is a new and wonderful thing.(Jun 14)..its going to be random and probably not completely organised but hopefully if nothing else probably interesting to a select few....

I have been encouraged to write a bloggy thing by good friend of mine who shall remain nameless but he knows only too well its his fault. I should like to add this is likely to be infrequent as well...Im busy doing all sorts as you will discover....

As an architect in this fabulous city of London there are just too many distractions....interests and events and things off the beaten path to keep one busy. You will probably never find me in a an area which is a bit too 'popular'. I prefer to be away from crowds and so the idea of walking down the likes of Oxford St might just be well to be frank and bit too much...However, venture off the back streets on either side and I might....might just be wandering around....

So Im an architect based in south west London with my own architectural practice (www.objectarchitecture.co.uk) focusing on craftmanship and good design with an appetite for the quirky, eclectic tastes, avante garde, design, interesting independent shops ( hat shops, vintage/traditional shops), good expresso, good independent proper mens clothes shops.

Strangely a diverse interest in vintage and classic motorcycles. A classic BSA 650cc ridden most weeks to and from projects. Its likely you might have seen me in and around Tooting on my way to and from somewhere. Unless of course it fails to start....In which case I jump on my Bonneville as it a bit newer...An interest in classic Volkswagen Beetles a classic 1969/70 in porsche 356 silver grey is and has been in my careful ownership for sometime. So given that I have an ear for a wide range of music but more likely to be listening to anything from classical music to 50s rock n roll. So I make no apology for it.

Given the above you wouldnt believe or so I been told that I have a tropical/jungle garden full of palms and bananas and koi but in fact Im a keen plants person. The garden was previously open under the National Garden Scheme for 6/7 years and then with the Red Cross for a few years. Im not opening it at the moment as... well Im up to various things.

When Im not doing any of the above I can be found weightlifting...I dont mean going to the gym either in the modern sense...all those tvs and bikes. I mean old school approach growing up with it in the family but thats another story which might just come to the surface every once and awhile.

On a sunny afternoon I might just disappear off somewhere to relax and cruise on my original skateboards...1970s..well sorry but its got proper wheels on it for cruising....If its raining well its time to hit the Gretsch 6120 and Vox 1960s valve amp.....for some blues and rock and roll, and if I dont I might be fiddling with my Edwardian /Arts and crafts house ...which needs constant love and attention...See I told you I was busy doing things....not too mention the art and craft of magic and illusion...although you can see one too many card tricks dont you think...

Anyway this is a lazy Friday afternoon and Ive just bumped into my neighbour and was invited in to see her wonderful garden. I might just get a cup of 'clipper' Earl Grey tea as it seems like a Tea moment...So I will catch up soon and do follow if you like in a good way...

www.objectarchitecture.co.uk