Computer Aided Design. It substitutes for drawing and designers lose a sense of materiality in what they're working with. It doesn't sensitize your own touch in any way. The computer solves all the problems for you and does the thinking - you don't even have to know how it thinks and solves problems. When you let a computer program do the work, you're not going to get something very creative and interesting.

 

It's funny how every time new tools come out, they're seen as the answer and then new architecture is soon deemed dead. After the Georgian era, the Victorian era met a lot of criticism over the precise, repetitive form - which was made possible by new machine technology. Of course in 2009 we get all nostalgic at the site of them and wish buildings were built like that now. We used to hate how building materials were so perfectly molded - no "happy accidents" or surprises. A piece of humanity was lost. That's why some people like Venice so much. Plenty of imperfections and asymmetries. Technology can be great though, it's not the enemy. I just think we need to be more creative in what building materials and detailing we use. Now it seems like people are longing for natural building materials but that gets shot down by the economics of a project.

 

I think people are hyping the banks up so much, they have a hard to coming to terms with the fact that it's going to look like any other standardized large scale development. Since that's probably not going to change, we need to focus on what's occupying the space.

Chalk it up to Computer Aided Design. It substitutes for drawing and designers lose a sense of materiality in what they're working with. It doesn't sensitize your own touch in any way. The computer solves all the problems for you and does the thinking - you don't even have to know how it thinks and solves problems. When you let a computer program do the work, you're not going to get something very creative and interesting.

 

It's funny how every time new tools come out, they're seen as the answer and then new architecture is soon deemed dead. After the Georgian era, the Victorian era met a lot of criticism over the precise, repetitive form - which was made possible by new machine technology. Of course in 2009 we get all nostalgic at the site of them and wish buildings were built like that now. We used to hate how building materials were so perfectly molded - no "happy accidents" or surprises. A piece of humanity was lost. That's why some people like Venice so much. Plenty of imperfections and asymmetries. Technology can be great though, it's not the enemy. I just think we need to be more creative in what building materials and detailing we use. Now it seems like people are longing for natural building materials but that gets shot down by the economics of a project.

 

I think people are hyping the banks up so much, they have a hard to coming to terms with the fact that it's going to look like any other standardized large scale development. Since that's probably not going to change, we need to focus on what's occupying the space.

 

I'll be the first to say it's frustrating that The Banks' architecture looks dull but I don't think you can honestly say it's any different in other cities.

 

Just finish reading The Craftsman?

Yes! Amazing.

1) Craftsmanship and attention to detail went out long before CAD

 

2) Loss of architectural detail is most directly a function of the vast industrialization of humanity that brought the bulk of us up from poverty into middle class. Yes, the Italianate rowhouse facades in OTR that we adore are lush with craftsmanship, but 40 people lived in one.

 

There was the Modern movement, but it wasn't a conspiracy to dullify the whole world. People just used increasing productivity and technology on other priorities, like having a whole bathroom just for their immediate family.

 

Just keep in mind when you are critical of the 20th century, that its changes were unprecedented. OK, so it gave us Hitler and Vinyl Siding, but I give humanity an A+ just for getting through it without blowing themselves up.

1) Craftsmanship and attention to detail went out long before CAD

 

2) Loss of architectural detail is most directly a function of the vast industrialization of humanity that brought the bulk of us up from poverty into middle class. Yes, the Italianate rowhouse facades in OTR that we adore are lush with craftsmanship, but 40 people lived in one.

 

There was the Modern movement, but it wasn't a conspiracy to dullify the whole world. People just used increasing productivity and technology on other priorities, like having a whole bathroom just for their immediate family.

 

 

The point is that we have all this technology now and it's not being utilized to its full potential. The only thing certain is that buildings can function very well. I agree it went out long before CAD, most of the 20th century sucked. All of the modern architecture was about functionality but with new tools we're given an excuse to move on and do greater things. It's quite sad that we do nothing but draw from our history. "Why can't the banks look more like Over the Rhine?" etc.

 

 

Just keep in mind when you are critical of the 20th century, that its changes were unprecedented. OK, so it gave us Hitler and Vinyl Siding, but I give humanity an A+ just for getting through it without blowing themselves up.

 

The 20th century is marked by Hitler and Vinyl siding LOL!! I love this statement. Civvik = Top public intellectual of 2009 :)

These posts look like they came out of nowhere since they were moved !

 

How do you guys practice craftsmanship? I experiment a lot with cooking.

These posts look like they came out of nowhere since they were moved !

 

How do you guys practice craftsmanship? I experiment a lot with cooking.

 

Restore something old - a house, a vintage automobile, antique furniture. Take up painting; you're a good designer, and I don't doubt you have some talent with various art media. There are a lot of people with artistic talent, but the ones who have the patience and commitment to apply real craftsmanship to their work stand out from the rest.

 

With houses and other buildings, when you get back to the early 1900s and before, anything you have to replace will have to be hand-crafted or hand-fitted, because none of the dimensions are standardized the same as what's available now. Even if you buy period materials from a salvage shop, you still have to work with what you can find. There's a good chance you'll end up shimming and trimming and plugging holes and filling dents and moving hinges, latches, etc. There were places where I faked it with contemporary materials because I was out of time, out of money and out of work, and now when I look at them I hate them. Little-by-little I'm trying to make those things right.

These posts look like they came out of nowhere since they were moved !

 

How do you guys practice craftsmanship? I experiment a lot with cooking.

 

Restore something old - a house, a vintage automobile, antique furniture. Take up painting; you're a good designer, and I don't doubt you have some talent with various art media. There are a lot of people with artistic talent, but the ones who have the patience and commitment to apply real craftsmanship to their work stand out from the rest.

 

With houses and other buildings, when you get back to the early 1900s and before, anything you have to replace will have to be hand-crafted or hand-fitted, because none of the dimensions are standardized the same as what's available now. Even if you buy period materials from a salvage shop, you still have to work with what you can find. There's a good chance you'll end up shimming and trimming and plugging holes and filling dents and moving hinges, latches, etc. There were places where I faked it with contemporary materials because I was out of time, out of money and out of work, and now when I look at them I hate them. Little-by-little I'm trying to make those things right.

 

Rob beat me too it.

 

Craftsmanship and creativity manifest itself in various forms.

 

More importantly it's a stress reliever.

These posts look like they came out of nowhere since they were moved !

 

How do you guys practice craftsmanship? I experiment a lot with cooking.

 

Restore something old - a house, a vintage automobile, antique furniture. Take up painting; you're a good designer, and I don't doubt you have some talent with various art media. There are a lot of people with artistic talent, but the ones who have the patience and commitment to apply real craftsmanship to their work stand out from the rest.

 

With houses and other buildings, when you get back to the early 1900s and before, anything you have to replace will have to be hand-crafted or hand-fitted, because none of the dimensions are standardized the same as what's available now. Even if you buy period materials from a salvage shop, you still have to work with what you can find. There's a good chance you'll end up shimming and trimming and plugging holes and filling dents and moving hinges, latches, etc. There were places where I faked it with contemporary materials because I was out of time, out of money and out of work, and now when I look at them I hate them. Little-by-little I'm trying to make those things right.

 

Loved this post.  I restored a 100 year old house recently and I can totally relate to this, especially the part about shims, etc.  And now that the major work has been done for a while, I've started cataloging things that I'd like to redo when time allows.

These posts look like they came out of nowhere since they were moved !

 

How do you guys practice craftsmanship? I experiment a lot with cooking.

 

Restore something old - a house, a vintage automobile, antique furniture. Take up painting; you're a good designer, and I don't doubt you have some talent with various art media. There are a lot of people with artistic talent, but the ones who have the patience and commitment to apply real craftsmanship to their work stand out from the rest.

 

With houses and other buildings, when you get back to the early 1900s and before, anything you have to replace will have to be hand-crafted or hand-fitted, because none of the dimensions are standardized the same as what's available now. Even if you buy period materials from a salvage shop, you still have to work with what you can find. There's a good chance you'll end up shimming and trimming and plugging holes and filling dents and moving hinges, latches, etc. There were places where I faked it with contemporary materials because I was out of time, out of money and out of work, and now when I look at them I hate them. Little-by-little I'm trying to make those things right.

 

Loved this post.  I restored a 100 year old house recently and I can totally relate to this, especially the part about shims, etc.  And now that the major work has been done for a while, I've started cataloging things that I'd like to redo when time allows.

 

What type of house?  pictures?  Renovating a home is a 24/7 full time job

These posts look like they came out of nowhere since they were moved !

 

How do you guys practice craftsmanship? I experiment a lot with cooking.

 

Restore something old - a house, a vintage automobile, antique furniture. Take up painting; you're a good designer, and I don't doubt you have some talent with various art media.

 

Thanks! You're a good designer too.

 

I used to paint.. and use chalk, oil, acrylic, water color, colored pencil, graphite sticks - everything. I even won a design contest and my middle school used my design as the school logo on their letterheads and stuff. I don't know why I don't do actual pen-in-hand drawing anymore. It always gave me a good sense of accomplishment.

 

I always notice details whenever I walk down a street; they're usually the first thing I notice, especially in historic neighborhoods. The color of the brick, the design of the railings, columns, awnings, etc. I used to not pay attention but once you pay attention to so many streets you start figuring out what makes it unique.

 

Most of my hatred of modernism stems from the lack of depth in the buildings. They look so two dimensional - like a cartoon, or Atlantic City's wannabe street scape along the boardwalk. At least fix THAT! Jeez.

Build models in architecture school.  University of Michigan required it.  They liked it when they saw students have "happy accidents."  Of course we still CADed it up soon after. 

 

As far as big buildings, I have to agree that manufacturing of building components took precedence before the architect's hand went from pen to mouse.  Actually, CAD isn't done by REAL architects, it's done by their slave laborers who lack registration and schooling to practice.  So I guess you could say CAD is just a vehicle for transcribing ideas, not generating them.  if there's someone to blame, it's the manufacturers and their wonderful product catalogs.  The bigger the firm, the bigger the library of cheap products many of you hate.

They liked it when they saw students have "happy accidents."  Of course we still CADed it up soon after. 

 

 

Doesn't that sound like a term Bob Ross would coin?

 

Yes...and some happy little trees!  :mrgreen:

 

Yes...and some happy little trees!  :mrgreen:

 

 

The afro is fitting lol

 

I don't know how he managed to turn out a painting in 30 minutes. I always fell asleep by the end of the show.

Loved this post.  I restored a 100 year old house recently and I can totally relate to this, especially the part about shims, etc.  And now that the major work has been done for a while, I've started cataloging things that I'd like to redo when time allows.

 

What type of house?  pictures?   Renovating a home is a 24/7 full time job

 

I'm not exactly sure what type it is.  I've been told it's an Italianate, but the roof doesn't seem right.  I've also been told that it's a Queen Anne cottage, but it doesn't seem to be ornate enough for that.  Personally, I think it's a mishmash of styles that were popular in the neighborhood between 1880 and 1910.  I'll see if I can dig up some before and after pics today, and post them in the "Where do you live?" thread.  I'd appreciate opinions on exactly "what" it is.

 

Yes, renovating a home is definitely a full time job.  And it never ends.  I love answering people when they ask if I'm done working on the house.  My response invariably is "Trust me, with a house this old, you're never really done".

Loved this post.  I restored a 100 year old house recently and I can totally relate to this, especially the part about shims, etc.  And now that the major work has been done for a while, I've started cataloging things that I'd like to redo when time allows.

 

What type of house?  pictures?   Renovating a home is a 24/7 full time job

 

I'm not exactly sure what type it is.  I've been told it's an Italianate, but the roof doesn't seem right.  I've also been told that it's a Queen Anne cottage, but it doesn't seem to be ornate enough for that.  Personally, I think it's a mishmash of styles that were popular in the neighborhood between 1880 and 1910.  I'll see if I can dig up some before and after pics today, and post them in the "Where do you live?" thread.  I'd appreciate opinions on exactly "what" it is.

 

Yes, renovating a home is definitely a full time job.  And it never ends.  I love answering people when they ask if I'm done working on the house.  My response invariably is "Trust me, with a house this old, you're never really done".

 

Cool I can't wait to see.  Sounds like an interesting project!

 

I agree.  I painted this morning and I was thinking, why did I buy this place.  swear word, swear word, swear word in Spanish.  lol

 

I don't think I could do another house, a room yes, but I don't think I have the strength or patience.  In the past its been therapeutic, today I felt it was mildly annoying!

Posted the pics over at the "Where do you live?" thread:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2178.msg363809.html#msg363809