The end of architecture, part 4. Compare these renders of future structures in Dubai to this set of post-apocalyptic concept art. Reality will be somewhere in between. But as Life Without Buildings points out, What's Up With All The Death Stars? Today, the role of modern architecture seems to begin and end with a statement of intent, in this case a terrifyingly literal imposition of science fiction values into the real world. Increasingly, whenever renders are used to whip up a social, cultural or political idyll, detail is subsumed beneath a rosy glow of reflected sunlight on shimmering water and glassy facades, more an indication of advanced rendering techniques than architectural innovation. The easiest way to modulate this light is to focus on experimental, 'innovative' forms. Gulf architecture, with its hard sunlight, flat landscape, seaside plots and apparently insatiable desire novelty, is a renderer's paradise. It is not, as yet, a truly real place.

"Das ist das Haus des Nikolaus". What is the House of Santa Claus?. There are 44 ways to draw the house, as demonstrated by this animation (taken from the German wikipedia page) / the Universal Scale, a flashy piece of animation built for Nikon cameras / works in paper by Holly Ormrod (via Green Chair Press) / Villatype, urban lettering / One Man and His Blog.

Devo - E-Z Listening Muzak Cassettes, Volumes One and Two, at I'm Learning to Share / Apothecary's Drawer sets out a useful number of links and information about Photographic Rights / Entropy, a photographic series about Romania (via grafic). As well as the expected industrial ruins, there are also galleries of cars and houses, the latter being a combination of shabby rural dwellings and Post-Soviet McMansions / the demolition of Pimlico School is underway. A gallery / a set of photoshop disasters / farewell Martin Pawley.

America's new line of division: Wal-Mart versus Starbucks / Gregor Graf's visually purified cityscapes are like the empty worlds from a post-apocalyptic computer game. Not a new idea (even in the real world) but nicely executed / the Roger Vaughan Personal Collection of Victorian and Edwardian Photographs / the Filter, a cultural weblog / flickr places, something we haven't played with yet / Brick City, a celebration of St Louis / rusting Russian hulks / playing with pocket battleships (both via Mr Boat).

Labels: architecture, linkage

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