worldly advice
“Architectural problems can never be truly solved. just ultimately ignored.”
the hard truth guys.
Submitted by Formative
April 2011
90 posts
thoughts on sleep...?
does pushing yourself to survive off a few hours for days and days on end beneficial? prior to a deadline..
You gotta do what you gotta do but I would say to make it a few hours A day…not a few hours for days. Get your three hours at least and you should be ok with coffee and other stimulants. Anything less will make you less (way less) productive so sleeping will actually increase you work put out. If you aren’t gonna sleep make sure your doing mindless work like piecing together a model that you have already figured out…but I still don’t suggest it
P.S. Layouts do not count as mindless work so don’t leave them for last when your on no sleep
ArchiMess: The one with architects and relationships →
archimess.tumblr.com
Architects, in general, always have relationship problems. People, simply, don’t understand that we have two true loves in our life, her/him and architecture.
Every architecture student that experienced going out with a person from a different profession will tell you that is almost impossible….
More On Taking a Year Off From Studio
I myself have taken a year off from studio and it did nothing but help me in every aspect of architecture. It allowed me to see the “game” of studio in different perspective…one way more clear and concrete. I realized my mistakes, how to work efficiently, and what to stress about. Those 3 things (to me) are most important in doing well in this lifestyle. Figuring out what to stress about is soooo important. You CANNOT fulfill every requirement/request that is given so you must know what is more important. On top of that, some things are just not worth doing, even if you are gonna loose points towards your grade. And finally, you gotta just DO DO DO DO DO…no more spending the night trying to decide which path of design to go on. If you do it, criticism and analysis will lead you in the right direction. Those are the things I learned from my year off, went from a B to an A student…oh and you’ll probably figure out if you really want to continue with architecture. If you don’t want to come back after that year…it’s not for you. So yea, totally worth it
Here’s a quote taken from our FB replying to the previous post about this from our friend Timmy Rea:
“ I took a year off and it was the best decision I could make. I came back better, wiser, and with a more diverse background. Just don’t waste your ‘year off.’ Put it towards something different, interesting, and productive. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t.”
One architecture school cracking down.... →
archinect.com
“The Department of Architecture cannot encourage students to develop work practices that involve staying overnight in the building on a regular basis. Staying overnight violates various health and safety rules for which we can be cited, fined or have our operations discontinued. While many faculty may remember from their youth that they had to “pull all-nighters” to get their work done, these past practices comes from attitudes that the study of architecture requires an monastic approach to the discipline…”
Final Presentation tips
Here’s a tip for final presentations (also interviews) that always helps me: Chamomile Tea. As an architecture student, you are permanently wired and probably have twice the legal limit of caffeine in you at all times, so you don’t have to worry about it putting you to sleep. Chamomile Tea is thought to be an herbal beta-blocker, which means that it diminishes the effects of adrenaline in your system, which is what triggers the fight-or-flight/nervous-as-shit thing. Have some before the review and be sipping on a power mug with 2 or 3 bags in it right before (or as) you present. It never made my drawings look any better, but it definitely helped me calm down and not look (as much) like a nervous wreck. Also: if you are a girl, wearing a scarf makes you look defensive and weak. Boys and girls: If you can pull it off, sitting down makes you look in calm and on par with the critics. And: don’t go up there with a Moleskine. You’re not going to write anything down (be honest), and it just makes your gesticulations look awkward. Oh, and: be yourself! If that is totally impossible, just try not to pee yourself or throw up on your models before you’ve photographed them.
I found this : http://theallnighter.tumblr.com/post/4779982280/any-suggestion-how-to-survive-the-night-before-final and it is soo useful. so I kind of reblog them, you can see them here http://icecreamdiary.tumblr.com/post/4791547934/useful-advice :D tell me if you mind, I will just delete it.
anyway, what do you think about tutor's comments? they just confuse me sometimes... do I have to change my own design because they said so or just go on with what I have?
As long as you referenced our advice it’s okay. DON’T EVER DO IT AGAIN!!!! Just kidding. Yeah a bunch of people don’t even bother to approach us when they indirectly use our work. For example there’s a hand full of users who blogged our minimalist poster but didn’t give us the tiniest bit of credit. Lucky for us we added a watermark to all of our original content… so haha.
When you are having your final crit is it better to point things out you realized you wanted to have changed but it was too late or just bullshit about how everything in your project is amazing?
The second one. This is a review about the culmination of your semesters work. It’s not a time to use hindsight and said you had the greatest intentions. It’s like if Steve Jobs went in front of all his investors and said “We had the best intentions on making an IPad 3 but here’s the IPad 2 in more colors.”
To tell you the truth saying that you should have done it another way actually hurts you more. It shows that you didn’t have the drive to go that direction but instead you “settled”. “Every shot not taken is a shot missed.” -Wayne Gretzky
any suggestion how to survive the night before final presentation..? btw..7A0 presentation....hehehehe
Do a run down of what you’re going to say, pin up what you intend on presenting the day before (not morning of), if you cannot keep the boards there over night just memorize how it looks, get sleep (real sleep) and dont drink coffee.
What is your opinion on either taking a year off from Studio in order to get back into the game after/needing time off?
Take the time off. Architecture isn’t going to pack its bags and abandon you. It will be waiting for you to make your life difficult.
Check these people out or live a life of regret
The American Cancer Society →
main.acsevents.org
My friend is trying to assemble the world biggest puzzle as a part of a fund raiser for The American Cancer Society. Puzzles, donations and kindness what else can you ask for?
Rem Koolhaas Keynote for Festival of Ideas for a New City →
archdaily.com
In NYC, May 4th 7:00pm, Tickets on sale now…25 bucks
Sleep Pics!!
Don’t forget to send us those pics of people passing out in studio, we got some good ones so far but not nearly enough to make a good collage
think this is pretty legit/useful/encouraging etc.
" “Not one of them, people like Rem Koolhaas and Nigel Coates, intended to build. When I left, I didn’t know anything about building. You could argue it’s a problem, but it’s also not: it’s the one moment you get to explore your creativity. I learned how to build later.”
— Amanda Levete, principal of the eponymous architecture firm founded after the dissolution of Future Systems and winner of the recent Victoria & Albert commission to re-figure the museum entrance. More. "
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2011/apr/09/amanda-levete-architecture-practice
via architizer
because definitely, just the responsibility of having a building standing and built one day is overwhelming when you're twenty. the lives of people in your hands.
another favourite,
" first we shape our buildings, and then our buildings shape us" -
winston churchill
some inspiration from Anonymous
Just curious what your guys thoughts were on Sci-Arc; in particular their computer driven formalist approach to architecture. Just wanted to get some opinions so I am prepared to defend the school next year when I attend M-Arch 2.
Hmm…I don’t know too much about Sci-Arc but from what I’ve seen, it looks great. In terms of the “computer driven approach to architecture” I’m all for it. In fact, I love it. The future of architecture is technology (as is everything) so why not have programs dedicated to it. Computers can’t teach design but their use as a tool is far beyond any other in my opinion. Now I’m not saying I don’t like more traditional ways of design (as it definitely aids in very different ways) but the fact is that computers are faster and allow you to produce more work which gives you more options. Plus it allows creative people, who aren’t necessarily artistic, to represent themselves. You will do great there, I’ve seen your stuff…you should post up your renders, I wouldn’t mind reblogging some…oh and one of my favorite profs went there lol (you know who he is)
What are the best programs to learn that's useful for the real world? Rhino? Revit? Maya? Digital Project?
Depends on the firm and what country and what state if your in the US. Across the board it seems like revit stands strong.
SO i'm studying abroad in asia next fall and we were SUPPOSED to go to Japan. But the way things are looking, the school is not letting us go. Anybody else getting their Japan trip rescinded? And do you know what the current status of awesome architectural pieces such as the Sendai mediatheque or the Yokohama international port?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heh5ITmYbRs
It actually performed the way it should have
Thank you,
You have an awesome blog, maybe the blog that brought me most on tumblr
Changing lives one tortured soul at a time. That’s The AllNighter mission.
To the person looking for inspiration: rather than flipping through inspirational images, I always browse graduate schools academic papers, or even research databases. I'm more likely to get an epiphany for a really great concept, and since there's typically few accompanying images, you're more likely to develop your own ideas instead of rehashing something youve seen.
good advice :)
what do you do when you're fresh out of ideas? when even looking up inspirational images for hours doesn't spark an idea.. or taking a break from work.. or sleep..
muck around with models? just put pen to paper and draw, draw, draw?
i feel really stuck.
Have a nutritious and delicious meal, take a giant deuce, work out, and sketch. You can try that out.
Follow these people because they leak of awesomeness
Do you guys think that it is a 'faux pas' to mention the work of someone on the panel, while you're getting crit. To defend your work or to make conversation?
It’s all about you mate. Don’t mention anyone besides you and your project. It’s like going to a concert with nothing but cover bands.
just a general question of spatial awareness,
are yall more often than not able to draw a plan of a place you have just visited once sat down at a table? be it casually on holiday, or on a daily basis.
is your spatial awareness that developed and keen?
figured out a richard serra sculpture after walking through it?
I’ve done that once but I kinda cheated because I was using the tiles as a rough reference. Your question reminds me of that scene in Jarhead where Jamie Foxx was teaching them how to estimate distance by using something they know and multiplying it. “Please don’t use your dicks. They’re too small, and I can’t count that high. I don’t wanna hear, 400,000 inches.”
Heyy when are you guys gonna pick winners for the tshirts?
Next month sadly. I feel terrible for constantly pushing it back and we hope we don’t lose any followers for that. I am so sorry. But who can complain about a free t shirt?
Your blog is a miracle upon this earth! I'm just graduating from high school and plan to go into architecture. Thank you so much for the follow! Your blog is my new bible!
You better tell everyone in your high school thats doing architecture about us. Also every single freshman next fall you see in studio.
How difficult would it be to study architecture if you currently aren't the greatest artist?
And also, I've heard that it's extremely difficult to find a job in architecture nowadays, is this true?
You really don’t have to be an artist. To it’s bare bones all fields creative require a person to have a great pair of eyes (figurative). I say this because they see what others can’t and then replicate or react to their vision through a physical form. That’s why when you see a design that’s very nifty or clever 80% of the people looking at it say “Why the fuck didn’t I think of that?” it’s because they only see the surface. When it comes to architecture you have to have a sense of space, form and material to express whatever your ideas are. Furthermore you obviously need to be hardworking, clever, crafty, respectful, have a thick skin and absorb as much as possible to develop your own methodology of design or at least have a definition of it. In turn that is what most would call a thesis or dissertation. One would think that professors that teach you have it all figured out but in reality they do stick to one way of thinking but refine it over and over again through trial and error (trial being students and error being.. well students) Practitioners I am not so sure.
But in terms of work it was terrible from 07-early 2010 but it’s healing. There’s is work but you have to work so much harder. The flood gates have literally opened and there aren’t enough sandbags to brace for impact.
So if I have a 2.5gpa from my bachelors I've got no chance at getting into any kind of graduate program ever.
Fuck fuck fuck.
I wouldn’t say that but the year I applied was hands down the highest rate of graduate applications in any given schools due to the recession, Naturally most of the unemployed architects of the nation flocked to get the masters they decided to put off. This creates a damming effect which floods the market with more over qualified, older and more experienced potential grad students. So its more competitive and a larger pool. In 2 out of my eight acceptance letters they even mentioned record amounts of applications. I have seen colleagues with GPAs well below a 2.5 but they got into great school because they are really talented and have greatrecommendations. Sometimes that lower GPA was because of some dumb fucking class that screwed you over.
So if you have anything lower than a 3.4 your shot at grad school will be low?
No it just means your pretty much gonna be accepted somewhere with a 3.4+. Besides A 3.4 is like a B+ so it;s not impossible.
What is a "good" GPA to graduate with? While all schools are different and some even do not necessarily have the students in "major status" the whole time thru out undergrad, how do grad schools process that; is an admissions decision reliant on the portfolio more than the GPA?
I’ve seen people with 3.7 get rejected from various schools. Just be well rounded and you’ll be fine. Still keep it over a 3.4.
What school do you go to?
Facebook us and all of your answers will be revealed. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002109132648
a question stemming from a question you recently answered: why does it suck to be excluded from the first year of m. arch 1? is it because of the extra education and possibly familiarization with the with the standards of that program. i'm curious because my course of study is similar in that i will have a b.s. arch.
It is pretty much that. You do miss out on the first fun bonding project and since you’re tossed into the middle of all of it your already expected to conform while everyone was slowly introd to it. In my class there were 17 other people in my position. We stuck together more or less because we thought we were resented by all the rest. In the end it was all in our heads and everybody embraced us. Many actually looked to me for advice even though they were a decade older than me.
hola theallnighter..
are you still studying or working now??
so u designing what kind of project now??
another question you and bookbully in one studio??
and nice to know that my studio and urs is not so different..i guest all studio will look the same...but the attitude and the craziness is still there...especially the night before deadline...hehehe
Thiis blog is actually ran by several people. We are all doing different things but this blog really does bind us together like Undergraduate architecture did. We actually do not know bookbully outside of tumblr but I would have to say bookbully is one of if not THE reason why we are so popular.
Other design majors such as... furniture design? industrial?
I think Cranbrook is pretty serious with their furniture design. Had pretty awesome professor from there. Love the new profile pic. No creep again.
Withholding
What do you think makes a successful designer? In my opinion one who brings out idiosyncrasies and peculiarities out of a form or space would be the ideal one. People who don’t design crazy but those who scream a loud concept by subtly in material or craft. Much like Zumthor (yes I do have a crush on that man).
Now to the point. I feel that most students really shouldn’t tell the critics everything behind their design. Obviously we all know where I’m going with this. Our models and our drawings should speak for themselves. Besides that many still have that urge to fart out why something looks or appears the way it is. But choose your words wisely. For example I think speaking about your intentions is a lot more powerful then explaining how your building works like a device. If your design is truly successful or at least “sold” the right way the critics would notice those peculiarities.I guess that’s why portfolios take so much time.
But seriously withholding information temporarily is actually quite good in a review or at least not blurting out all the details. It’s kind of like when I met Jesse Reiser. He was presenting his airport project and was showing a walk through the terminals. I started to notice something about the thick apertures. Then in that very second he fully explained how each recess is purposely aimed towards the docking planes. Shit!!! Its like someone telling you the punchline before you can get the joke or blue balls. Okay ignore the last part because our female designers might not understand.
I’m also a fan of keeping secrets for myself. It’s kind of like keeping your signature on the project no one else knows about. Unless Robert Langdon decides to go on a grail quest your fictional building.
I'm studying a bachelor of arts degree in architecture at a good university in the UK. It's the standard here. 3 years, finishing with a BA (Hons). Normally, the next route would be to take a year, or possibly more, working in a practice, before returning to do a 2 year Diploma in architecture. Then a bit more work, a few exams, then you're an 'architect'.
I really want to study my diploma/the US equivalent in America. But I heard American universities simply do not consider people who have only done 3 year BA courses...? What's the best way for me to study my post-grad in USA?
The thing about the United States is that you would only be able to apply for an M. Arch 1 degree. The diff between this and a M Arch 2 besides the fact you have to stay twice as long is that M Arch 1 is like law school. You can be a liberal arts major and still probably get in. Given if you do have a arch background you would have a better chance.
What sucks these days and in my case I received a B.S. Arch which was a 4 year program. But there is an emerging trend amongst schools where they would exlude you from the first year of M Arch one. The same thing happend to me because they thought my portfolio kicked ass.
I think you should take the year off or even two years to work, polish that portfolio because you never know if they would knock a year off, research your schools and visit them. More importantly keep intouch with our blog.
I which I had done the same because I was doing all of those things like applying and finishing off my last year as an undergrad. Probably the most strenuous time of my life. Good luck mate.
