MATERIA URBANA

24.10.10 'Inés of my Soul': another review

In this book Isabel Allende sets upon the difficult task of creating a narrative that strings together the pieces of history and distant records from the 1530’s conquest of Chile. The book is written in first person giving a voice to Inés de Suárez, a genuine female ‘conquistador’. Allende brings to us fleshed out characters who, through Inés de Suárez, are introduced to us as if we were part of an intimate conversation—Inés is in this way trusting her story to us. This book presents a superb insight on those gruesome and treacherous wars of conquest.

4.10.10 Architectural education and the shared space: Agrado’s city

The city, where culture and the society’s realities are expressed, is described by Lewis Mumford in the following terms:

The city in its complete sense, then, is a geographic plexus, an economic organization, an institutional process, a theatre of social action, and an aesthetic symbol of collective unity. [1]

At the two extremes, I have been to magnificent cities of rather plain architecture and also visited mediocre cities with impressive pieces of architecture—pieces that do not contribute to give the city a coherent rhythm and which instead fight for attention. I was eager to travel to London and see with my own eyes those buildings that I had only seen in photographs, for instance Richard Rogers’ Lloyds building or Norman Foster’s Gherkin—prominent buildings that define the skyline and that, from afar, stand as a promise of a good city. Yet, when in close proximity the enchantment vanishes to expose the real self, a meagre and greedy architectural stance that interiorises anything that may be good about its architecture.

Figure 1 - One of the entries to Richard Rogers' Lloyds building. Photograph by author.

14.9.10 How Spike and the slumdweller find reality in design studio handouts

An exploration of reality in the design studio

Description:
"How Spike and the Slumdweller Find Reality in Design Studio Handouts: An Exploration of Reality in the Design Studio," in ArchNet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. 4, issues 2/3 (2010).

To download this document please visit: ArchNet-IJAR

How Spike and the slumdwell... by beatriz

24.7.10 IntentCITY: the polical city

IntentCity was the inaugural forum establishing many of the principles of the Architects for Peace. This publication launch will feature contributors to IntentCity and a discussion about social responsibility and the right to the city. Contributors to IntentCity include Dr Darko Radovic, Beatriz Maturana, Dr Kit Lazaroo and Liz Coleman, Marc Purcell, Geoff Hogg, Su Mellersh-Lucas and Mick Pearce.
Editors: Beatriz C. Maturana & Anthony McInneny