The Sun Also Rises

We observe sunsets in this class.  They are sobering - a final release of clarity to unravel the mess we made that day.

Some sunsets are deeply personal moments enjoyed in solitude, and others are experienced in collective awe.  A cyclical ritual anchoring even the most tumultuous mind to the fabric of time, they remind you that you are a small, most likely insignificant part of nature.  Regardless, we still observe in search of some connection and meaning and relevance because it is worth it.

The cycle of the day ends, the slow descent of the sun edges past the mountains, the richness of the landscape begins to desaturate - all while a striking orange glow desperately fights its ill-fated disappearing act.  With our eyes unblinking, we observe a most gripping ending and see nothing else. Upon the sun’s departure, a scatter of birds rush in an attempt to fill its lingering void.

This is the story of the final moment that refuses to be mediocre, that will flourish until its last breath, and exit with fanfare.




Cathleen Chiu

WHAT YOU SEE; WHAT I SEE

I look at what you look at, but I see not what you see. 

I hear what you hear, but I listen not to what you listen. 

I eat what you eat, but I taste not what you taste. 

I smell what you smell, but I sense not what you sense. 

I touch what you touch, but I feel not what you feel. 

I breath what you breath, but you live not what I live. 

The common becomes the secret. 

Purity to the work of many thoughts, but one hand. 

          The hidden marks revealed only to the searching eye. 

A flame beating upon the frailty in the essence of meaning. 

-Krys Cebe

Fiat Lux

Currently in my stay in Spain, my general theme of my photography is: light.

Of course all the snapshots that were taken during day should show sunlight in some way but capturing unique moments where light interacts with the space was challenging and fun at the same time. 

In the book that I read during this summer, it quotes, "light is an extraordinary device that gives life to every other object in this planet...once the light shines upon the dark dusty space, there, the flying dusts are born again as flying organisms."

From this quote, I pondered perhaps Sorolla may have put focus on "light" in all of his paintings because of its important role.

Maybe light was a device to re-call and give "life" to his paintings into vivid living memories. 

-Joan Kang

Fireworks

Light showered onto me, so close that splinters of burnt residue dropped on my face. There were moments when I wondered the safety of being so close to such beautiful explosions. The sound followed, catching all my attention that I could feel the vibrations all the way through my body. The light was so bright that I could merely see a silhouette of the crowd in front of me. For a moment the entire sky was brightened , then returned back into darkness as the light faded away. Fog seeped among us, creating a stage of its own by forming a barrier between us and the outside world. 

-Renee Yuen

"I am so pretty"

Dan Ho

Do nothing for any reason, link everything in a reason

     One of the best part about traveling is that it makes you think.

You think about the patterns you see on the wall in a hall;

think about how the water come and go in a yard; 

wonder which saint sculpture this is and what his story is. 

You are amazed by the new things around you, and start to analyze the deep reasons within the people, architecture, and culture. You can't help comparing the new views with your culture and background, and new thoughts come out. But after all you realize no matter how distances, landscapes, people various, cultures are not. They may seem incomparable, but they are linked deeply and fundamentally. 

All the sightseeings and experience change you unconsciously and foster a new you, which I think is the most important significance for the summer program and our two-month staying in Spain.

Echo Liu
July 26, 2015

     

The occupational hazard

One of the hardest things to accept is that, as an architecture student, you learn to look at places differently. Eventually, you won’t be able to look at them the same way everyone else does anymore.

And so it begins: you are finally experiencing the architect’s occupational hazard.

It is no longer about looking at how ‘pretty’ the building looks, or how ‘elaborate’ the tile work is, these facts are perhaps a given in an architect’s mind. Now it is about looking at the reason why people would call it pretty and elaborate. Sometimes it is even about looking at what it would be if the building didn’t look like that or if the tile work was not done in such a way at all.

Confusing? Yes, it is a hard concept to grasp and not even I am close to mastering it, but let me put it in a simple way- 

When we visit a new place everyone likes to take at least a few pictures. They are a way to record our memories, capture our experiences, and are solid evidence that we were once there.

But this is where the architect tumbles into the occupational hazard: no more tourist poses, no more panorama pictures -it’s time for you to capture ‘moments’.  

And so instead of taking the picture of the beautiful fountain and the surrounding gardens, you end up doing things like this:

It’s okay. (We all do it shamelessly.)

People are going to be utterly confused because, as a designer, shouldn’t you be taking pictures of the whole building?

If you are a true architect (or you are at least in the path to become one) you will understand why it is more significant to end up with pictures like these:

 

Perdón mis amigos arquitectos, but this is the way it’s going to be from now on.

It’s not that bad actually. Between us, it feeds a little bit of your ego to know that you are able to see moments that other mortal non-designers cannot.

I guess it balances out.

~MelanieMuñoz

Shawarma Life

Shawarma has become an important part of my existence here in Guardamar so I thought I would dedicate a haiku to the place that I frequented up to 4 times a week.  


A box of shawarma!


Makes me feel some type of way


How can I move on?


According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, shawarma is "a sandwich especially of sliced lamb or chicken, vegetables, and often tahini wrapped in pita bread" but shawarma is so much more.  Shawarma is a life style.  The Arabic name shawarma comes from the Turkish word çevirme meaning turning.  Kebab Turco, the shawarma place in Guardamar, takes on its own unique interpretation of shawarma using fries, lamb, and several divine sauces.  Shawarma is made by stacking strips of meat, fries, and various sauces.  An onion, a tomato, or a halved lemon is sometimes placed at the top for decoration, you know, if your into that.  The meat is roasted slowly on all sides as the spit rotates in front of, or over, a flame for hours.  Gas or electric heat is used; formerly, there was a cage holding burning charcoal or wood. Some restaurants offer two or more meat selections; many have just one.    

Kebab Turco is run by a nice Greek couple and they deserve your business.  For just 3.50 euros you can get a meal that will fill you up.  It's the cheapest/best place we have found in Guardamar so I strongly recommend it.  If your not convinced here are some photos:

Nik Kretzschmar

The Tourist Troll

To be a troll is simple. To be a tourist troll is simply exciting. 

Find a statue. Any will do.

Imitate the statue to the best of your ability. 

Take a picture. Selfie is preferred. 

Enjoy.

AlexSong.

How to Be So Fashion With Only a Backpack of Clothes

1. Less is More

2. A scarf can also be a shirt

3. A shirt can also be a dress

4. Pants are not always necessary

5. Have a friend who is always willing to take your picture #modelstatus

6. Wear everything with confidence

7. Wear nothing with equal amounts of confidence

8. #lessismore

Does this make me look pretentious?

Amy Lee

How To Be A Strong Independent Black Women

I lie!

I don't know how to be independent, black or a woman.

This post will not give you a step by step process on how to become an "strong independent black woman," rather this post will tell you how to be an architect or at least get through the 100 series in Berkeley.

The first thing you need to do is be confident about your work.

As a graduate, having gone through the two years of studio "hell," I learned that no matter how much you don't know why you added that single line across your diagram or what your diagram is even about, be confident about it. If you're going to try and bullshit. Bullshit with confidence. Start off by saying, "This project/diagram is about. . ." Throw some architectural words in there of course. "Ambiguous." Architects love the word ambiguous for some odd reason. 

YOU'RE ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING A STRONG INDEPENDENT ARCHITECT.

Almodovar. Rondell

La Torre de los Americanos

I'm not a fan, Benidorm, so in your face...

Alicante, I do like you very much.
You have a Corte Ingles
(and even a new Starbucks now...)
That said,
in your face too!

And Paris, you know how much I love and admire you but...

in 

YOUR FACE

AUSSI!!!

Guardamar de Segura:

ruling the skies 

(in Europe at least)

since 1962,

yo...

A.S.J.