WRAP

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zebras hanging out, ready to blast off away from the tiger with a camouflage coat that looks like grass .
the zebra stripes have proven to drive flies away. the smaller and closer the stripes the more effective. Notice the pattern of close stripes around the head. to many animals the stripes blend and create a gray of a huge mass when in a herd.
zebra better suited to survival than horses and roam in harems where the stallion defends his women and children. zebras only sleeps standing up and when a fellow zebra is on guard. when they are cornered they kick and bite.

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tiger on the move, just out to feed, not afraid of humans, and even hunts humans if hungry. the larger tigers 100 pound heavIer than the largest lion. the favorite animal in the world, ranks above dogs. love those stripes. tigers known to hunt their predators ,like dogs, only for the kill.

national geographic photos

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The Petersen Automotive Museum for Los Angeles, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. Rendering looking east.

“WRAP”. TAKING THE SIGN BOARD BOX AND WRAPPING IT WITH SOME COOL PAPER AND PUTTING SOME FANCY BOWS ON IT. I MYSELF SPECIALIZING IN TAKING WHITE COMPUTER PAPER AND APPLYING THE SISSOR TRICKS AND CREATING A MIRAGE OF A DREAM. GETTING OOS AND AWS THAT I DESPERATELY NEED. WHEN I USE THE NEWSPAPER AND THROW AWAY MAGAZINES TO DO THE SAME THINGS, THE PROPER PEOPLE FLINCH. THEY ARE THREATENED THAT IT COST NOTHING AND DOES NOT HAVE THE MARTHA STEWART STAMP OF APPROVAL. SOMETIMES I SELECT FLASHY PICTURES OF CONSUMER ITEMS, LIKE CARS FOR THOSE THAT DRIVE THE LATEST. HOPING TO SEE THEIR REACTION TO CARS TRIVIALIZED.

I LOVE THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM WRAPPED PATTERNS IT CREATES. WHAT FASCINATES ME IS THAT IT COVERS UP THE PRESENT BUILDING WITH OUT ALTERNATING THE ORIGINAL SURFACES. A HUGE COST SAVINGS. WILL THIS SHINY WRAP REFLECT AND MELT SOME CARS? I READ RECENTLY SOMEWHERE, WHERE ONE OF THESE REFLECTIVE FACADES DID MELT A CAR BUILT OUT OF PLASTIC. A PORCHE I BELIEVE.

BUILDING WRAPS ARE MOVING IN THE DIRECTION THAT ADVERTISING SIGNS AROUND A BASKETBALL COURT USE, THEY CHANGE EVERY FEW MINUTES.

AN INTRIGUING ASPECT OF THIS DESIGN IS THAT THE NORTH AND WEST SIDES ARE WRAPPED IN MUCH THE SAME WAY. SUN, VIEWS, AND OTHER PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE NOT OF CONSEQUENCE.

AS A YOUNG ARCHITECT, I WOULD HEAR STORIES OF WORKING IN PLACES LIKE SOM WHERE A DESIGN TEAM WOULD DO NOTHING BUT STUDY FACADES. THAT WAS THE ERA OF CURTAIN WALLS. I AM SURE THAT THE SAME PRACTICE IS USED TODAY WITH THE COMPUTER ENDLESS PATTERNS LIBRARY . THE COMPUTER SNAPPING THESE IMAGES ON IN SECONDS.

CLOSE YOUR EYES. NOW THINK OF THE AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM SCREEN WRAP AS A TRELLIS FOR PLANTS AND MIST. AN URBAN JUNGLE . THE AIR FILLED WITH OXOGEN. SIMILAR TO BEING IN A MEADOW WITH LUSH GRASS. GOBBLING UP ALL THE CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE CAR EXHAUST. A VARIETY OF FLOWERS INTERMIXED, TO GIVE A BIT OF COLOR AND FRAGRANCE THAT SHOO AWAY THE INSECTS.

NOW SPREAD THIS IMAGE TO ALL THE BUILDINGS SURROUNDING YOU. A GREEN CITY EMERGES, VS A BUNCH OF PUNCHY FACADES AND WRAPS.
THE INTERIOR INHABITANTS LOOKING OUT FROM TREE HOUSES TO THE LUSH GROWTH.

WHY STOP AT A VISUAL FACADE? AS I SAID, I LOVE THE LOOK, BUT SO MUCH MORE COULD BE HAPPENING . : FOOD PRODUCTION, SOLAR COLLECTION, NESTING, INSULATION, SOUND BARRIERS, SCREENING , SHADING, RECYCLED WATER USE ETC.

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downtown tropisphere glen howard small 2011

THE DOWN TOWN TROPISPHERE COVERS UP EXISTING FACADES WITH PLANTS, THE TRELLIS WRAP CREATES THE PATTERN TO CREATE THE LOOK . THE CAR MUSEUM WOULD FIT IN WELL AND HAS GIVEN ME INSPIRATION TO USE MORE PREDOMINATE PATTERNS FOR WRAP.

I HAVE BEEN DOING WRAP BUILDINGS FOREVER, AND FRANK GEHRY GOT HIS BIG BREAK WITH THE DISNEY RIBBON WRAP THAT HE TOOK TO BILBAO AND ALL PARTS OF THE GLOBE,. I LOVE THEM, BUT FRANK AS OF LATE IS RUNNING AWAY FROM THEM. THEY DO NOT SUPPORT HIS BAD BOY IMAGE . GREEN FROM FRANK OR ZAHA IS NOT PREVALENT.

GET THE PATTERN AND POUND THE IMAGE IN. WHERE WERE THOSE DESIGNERS FORTY YEARS AGO. NATURE LIKE ZEBRAS AND TIGER HAVE BEEN DECORATING THE WORLD FOREVER FOR GOOD REASONS AND SURVIVING. THE EPITOME OF FUNCTION AND GOOD LOOKS.

WHAT IS LACKING IS THE FUNCTIONS TO MAKE IT ALL WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THE PLANET. TOM MAYNE WITH HIS FEDERAL BUILDING IN SAN FRANCISCO WAS TRYING TO CREATE A HIGH RISE WITHOUT NORMAL AIR CONDITIONING, HE IMPLEMENTED LOTS OF GAGETS TO PULL IT OFF AND LOOK LIKE THE INSIDE GUTS OF A STAINLESS STEEL SHEET METAL FACTORY . IF YOU LIKE THE WALK ON SPIKES IMAGE THEN HE SUCCEEDED. BUT LOOK AT THE ZEBRA AND TIGER AGAIN AND REALIZE HOW NATURE PULLS OFF FUNCTIONS AND VISUALS THAT DELIGHT EVERYONE.

THE EXAMPLES OF MY OWN WRAPS BRING INTO PLAY MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS, BUT COULD BE MORE SYNERGISTIC. NATURE SHOWING US, WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO TO GET IT RIGHT. THAT IS THE FUN PART OF DESIGNING, WE HAVE JUST BEGUN.

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interlocking housing, vertical city , crandbrook masters study 1967 glen howard small, architect

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hotel wing study for Abu Dhabi eco resort 2008 for tdic Abu Dhabi glen howard small architect the infill a veil of netting

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housing wrap 2010

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building wrap 2009 glen howard small

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john paul rotunda project, managua nicaragua 2003 small and lewites architects

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lieberman addition 1987 glen howard small, architect

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grant wada condominiums bay st. santa monica, 1988 glen howard small. architect

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nelson residence remodel 1990 glen howard small and michael rendler architects

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nelson residence, 21place santa monica 1998 glen howard small architect

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tri-ad gallery 1997 waldport, oregon glen howard small, architect

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concha acoustical. managua nicaragua 2005 small and lewites architects

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lake restaurants project, managua nicaragua 2005 small and lewites architects

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lake ferry depot, managua nicaragua, 2003 small and lewites architects

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ferry building project, managua nicaragua 2003 small and lewites architects

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glen howard small residence seal rock oregon 2000 glen howard small architect

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housing project wrap study, san juan de sur, nicaragua 2009 glen howard small architect model glass line support not part of the design

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Abu Dhabi marina for tdic 2008 glen howard small architect.

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eco resort village project, nicaragua pacific ocean coast 2013 small and lewites architects

13 comments

  1. Nicely written piece. And you extended the horizontal wrap which is now becoming cliche to conceptually to embrace vertical wrap, site wrap, pattern wrap, ..serpentine wrap. The wiggle and squiggle forms sets these apart. Back again. eric

    • ERIC,

      YOU ARE BACK WITH THE LIVING, NICE TO HEAR OF YOUR RECOVERY.
      YOUR COMMENTS MISSED, HAVE PROVED YOU ARE A SPARK TO GET OTHERS TO COMMENT. THANKS FOR PROVIDING THE INSIGHT TO INSPIRE .

      THIS IS THE ERA OF PATTERNS, AND THE WRAP BEING IN VOGUE. WHAT FASCINATES ME IS THAT OFTEN THE WRAP IS LEFT TO THE OUTSIDE, WHEN THE WRAP COULD BE PART OF THE INSIDE AS WELL. IT IS THE SKIN THAT COVERS AND PROTECTS THE INTERIOR. BUT THE FORM IS THE ISSUE THAT IN ARCHITECTURE CAN REFLECT IN THE INTERIOR. ONE OF THE BIG PRINCIPLES OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE. THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE BEING AN EXTERIOR EXPRESSION THAT IN REALITY THE INSIDE IS A WHOLE SERIES OF ITEMS TO PRODUCE THE AUDITORIUMS AUDIBLE. THE EXTERIOR SHOWING THE BEAUTY OF A WRAP THAT MAKES ONE FEEL THEY WILL HEAR FANTASTIC MUSIC ON THE INSIDE.

      DISAPPOINTMENT COMING WHEN YOU GET A GEHRY EXTERIOR AND END UP WITH BOXES ON THE INTERIOR TO SATISFY THE CURATORS OR LEASING REQUIREMENTS.

      THE CRIT BEING THE INTERIOR SHOULD BE A REFLECTION OF THE EXTERIOR.
      A GOTHIC CATHEDRAL EXTERIOR DEFINITELY SETS THE STAGE FOR THE GEM OF AN INTERIOR. THAT HAPPENS WITH A RAY KAPPE HOUSE AS WELL. MY SEALROCK HOUSE PULLED THAT OFF TOO. ALWAYS COGNIZANT OF THE CURVE THAT DREW YOU TO THE INSIDE.

      GLEN

  2. while I was at the hospital I had two books by my side. Both old but very enlightening. The first was Aristotle’s Ehtics the othe Kant’s Critique of Judgement. As you can see my taste in books is old old school.

    Aristotle’s Ethics I recommend to anyone. Just pick and choose. Its all about defining character. I am sure that you have read some of it, your Ethics are similar.

    Kant is much better. His critique (read dialectic} of judgement is all about aesthetics and nature as ground (source) of beauty. His judgement is called taste, the ability to make aesthetic distinctions.

    I think both books should be required reading for architect students.

    eric

  3. Eric – I read of your ailment but didn’t know how to contact you!
    Glad to know your health has improved; you make great points on reading for students and I completely agree. (you and I had that discussion while at Sci-Arc).

    To Glen’s wrapping buildings, thanks for the article and the very intriguing images of your projects, built and unbuilt. Not many architects can pull off curved forms successfully and yes it needs to continue on the interior. Although you suggested the forms 46 years ago, today it is considered experimental today.

    Another block to the use of curved wrap may be as Aaron Betsky alluded about his Yale class reunion, that after 30 years architecture ‘remains the built affirmation of the social, economic, and aesthetic status quo’.

  4. eric and jack,

    what fascinates me is that beauty has to be explained. when i was a kid, i saw the grand canyon. not particularly so great in my eyes. when i revisited as a young architect, i could not contain my joy and excitement that this huge erosion pattern had on me. but now, i am sure when i see the same erosion patterns by the side of the road at a small scale, which are all so common, the average guy does not see beauty. the scale compared to the grand canyon is not there, but the pattern exists.

    after years of observation, some people get it, others will never. it is like music that way. but as i pointed out, after education my sensitive system was turned on.

    glen

  5. Beauty. Some scientists say that beauty is hardwired in the brain, a sort of sexual attraction similar to how animals sniff out mates, only the sense of sight replacing smell as the input.

    Not at all complicated if one takes the ‘physicalist’ approach to beauty. Its all evolution. Or as Skinner says its all input-output stimulus-response behaviorism.

    But I think the concepts of beauty are not at all about the brain. Its in the mind. Tall, thin and symmetrical may be the biological trigger but the mind sings rhapsody.

    Which is why we have poetry, listen to melodies, look at nature and watch women in commercials. We like beauty. And we all want to be beautiful too.

    eric

    • eric,

      you got me on not understanding the difference between the brain and the mind.

      please explain. hot wired vs attracted to. it has always been strange that a guy that can not understand the beauty of a plant, flower, nor sensuous building, can pick the most beautiful girl out of the crowd. what is that about?

      glen

      • Brain reacts to sensory input. Mind is contemplative, and reflective. Nothing deep about a pretty girl turning you on. But to appreciate music or art or architecture or nature on a level a bit more than surface takes a mind. That appreciation for things and to make a judgement if good / bad or right / wrongly done is called taste.

        The ability to articulate these differeence is criticism

        • eric,

          taste is such a trendy word that people will die for. a flair that some people posses and others are at a total loss to understand.

          clothes are the obvious thing one can control, and it offers a spring board to launch a personality. it is about control and being able to express that.

          when getting to a building scale, people are so timid, and insecure, but have strong opinions that are conservative. it is interesting how people say they have no opinion and yet have huge opinions.

          glen

  6. Well clothing is personal taste and buildings are public, personal taste is compromised in the sense that the financial investment and obligations dictate a very conservative expression. Trendier architectural taste tends to be found in more speculative enterprises such as restaurants, boutiques, merchandizing, technology firms interiors , that sort of thing. Something that sets them apart.

    i am amazed When Ii see Morphosis getting the government to build their works.

    • eric,

      thom mayne is the perfect example. the rich federal client judge of eugene taking thom to europe to look at architecture and introducing thom to designer clothes. thom sold the judge his architecture and the judge got thom to buy designer clothes.

      thom going from the local activist in 1972 to the star of the consumerism society for the federal government.

      glen

      glen

  7. Good for Thom that his client and he matched so well. And they both learned from each other. That is the perfect basis for friendship. Similarity of interests, taste. The bond is mutual.

    Dont be so cynical about the branding, consumerism part of architecture. If Thom was all and only about money (Designing consumer objects) that would show deficiency of character, something like a designer gun for hire. A hit man for big showy projects. I dont think that Thom, or Gehry, or Moss or any of the SCI-Arc crowd is all about that.. The artistic aspects of their architecture bring the fame and recognition and that brings in the monied clients.

    My criticism is not an ethical or moral one but aesthetics. I just dislike the fucked-up fragmented approach. In a sense it just reflects the fucked-up world like a cracked mirror expresses that pov in architectural ways thru Irony,, sarcasm, and angst. I dont see any positive aesthetic solutions in their forms. or well thought-out solutions.

    I dont see any ‘good’ design in any of the work.

    eric chavkin

    • eric,

      it all ties together, moral, aesthetics, eco, social concern, etc it is part of the cracked mirror you are describing. it is scratching a black board, the stench of the society, because consumerism is the driving force that they design for.
      do these architects want to sooth the soul ?, inspire the soul ?, or nurture the soul?. no they want to shock the soul, pierce the soul, and confuse the soul. that is why this society, that you aptly describe, loves them.

      gehry is different than moss and eric, he does, now and then seek beauty. i do not think that is what he wants to be known for, therefore, his fragmented clash and bang house, he lives in. he becomes out right nasty when talking about sustainable architecture. not his thing.

      glen

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