The Third Man

Just because it's genious.

Daniel Libeskind

(sourced from archithings.com)

This is Libeskinds design for the Dresden Military History Museum. It is currently under construction but I have chosen to put it in for the simple fact that it shows greatand dynamic use of the space between buildings.



(sourced from studylanguages.org)

This is the Jewish Museum in Berlin designed by Daniel Libeskind in 1993. I admire this building, and Libeskind's work in general infact, since he uses space so effectivly. With the Jewish Museum he makes particularly good use of space form and control of light to create a mood within the building; however what most links this building to my work I feel is his use of material is a massive factor in the space's sucsess. The starkness and harshness of the lines are counter balenced by the nutrality of the material and I feel that this could be a very important thing to remeber in my work, particularly with this project.

Philosopys of Non-Space: Urbanization

Having been reading a part of "Planet of Slums" Mike Davis (2006) London:Verso, I have come accros a couple of thinkers who have writen about the concept of non-space in a loose way. They focus on the concept of urbanization and the effects of modernization on population distribution and urban growth. For the first time in history more of the worlds population lives in urban areas than rural ones, this has lead to the rapid development of cities, particularly in south east asia, sub-saharan west africa and south and central america. This in turn has led to the rise of shanties and slums and the idea of Zwischenstadt which I will come back to shortly.
First off te antropologist and sociologist Gregory Guldin speaks about the conseptualization of urbanization as "structural transformation along and intensified interaction between, every part of an urban-rural continuum". This "urban-rural continuum" is basicaly speaking the areas between cities and more specificaly in areas of multiple magalopolises (cities with populatons or more than a million) where rural areas have been absorbed into semi-urban, sub-urban or slum effectivly. Zwischenstadt is a concept along the same lines from the German anthropologist and architect Thomas Sieverts. Where as Guldin envisages his urban-rural spaces in a fairly traditionaly centred settlements along set transport lines, Sieverts cnceptualises them more as non-traditional settements with no clear or set centre. This theory obviously lends itself more to shanty towns and in some ways is a much more modern concept.
These urban-rural continuums or areas of Zwischenstadt could be thought of as non-space in some respects, particularly if you are looking at it from Auge's view point as thy do not in many ways meet his deffinition of place. However ethicaly speaking and I supose personaly speaking these areas, particularly shantys, are more cultural interesting than sub-urbia, however I supose that is largly subjective.

Rachel Whiteread

(sourced from dcist.com)

This work is called "Ghost" (1990) by Rachel Whiteread. The work is a cast of the interior of a room in a deralict house. It is about the ghost like impressions of a lived in space, particularly evocative of this idea is the blackened imprint of the fire place. I also feel that it is a very good refference to my work as it is a record of a space without purpose where purpose once was. The technical process is facinating also, makes me want to do some work with plaster or concreat, something that is blanck enough not to distract from the idea yet is fitting with the theem.

For more images and info: www.dcist.com/2010/11/permanent_collection__rachel_witeread.php

This is an image of a demolished street in Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent. The house visable was the last intact building on the street, with the resident refusing to leave. The next 3 or 4 streets (out of shot to the left) were also totaly flattened. The demolition of houseing like this and the lack of any re-build on the ground I belive is a form of non-space. It is a space without purpose where purpose once was.

Fever

(sourced from photo.net)

This image is of a bar in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, I belive, shot by Patrick O'Donoghue. It was sent to me by Mark O'Hara so a big thank you to him. It shows the use of a wasted space very nicely I feel and the idea of buildngs under bridges and underpasses etc. could be an interesting route to go down with this work at some point.

Non-sign II

(sourced from greendiary.com)

This piece, Non-sign II by Lead Pencil Studio of Seattle, was commisioned by the American government to comment on the "consiquences of advertising and demand to free some space". It fits quite well with Auge's essay once again whilst also pottentialy having socio-political connotations, ie anti capitalism. More than anything though I just think it looks really good as a piece of modern public art.

For more images and quotes from the artist:

www.greendiary.com/entry/lead-pencil-studio-creates-a-billboard-to-bring-eco-awareness