Another One Down

Today I received another ARE score in the mail:  I passed "Building Design & Construction Systems."  This was the quickest turn-around I have experienced so far with the scoring report (about five weeks).

I hope this bodes well for prompt scoring on my last two tests, one of which is scheduled two weeks from yesterday.  My mantra these days is "just get 'em done!"  I want my license by summer.

Beijing Burning: Questioning the Starchitect

Today is Friday the 13th and architecture has been a bit unlucky this past week.  On Monday, the 50-story Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Beijing, still under construction and due to open in May, burned to a crisp when an unauthorized fireworks display celebrating the Lunar New Year went horribly wrong.  One firefighter died in the blaze and six people were injured.  The hotel, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and his firm OMA, was part of Central China Television's (CCTV) new headquarters complex.  Unsurprisingly, CCTV has been careful to release only minimal information about the disaster through their own agency, reportedly covering the Australian wildfires much more than the fire in their own back yard.

When I first heard about the fire, I thought, "Wow, even Koolhaas' buildings can burn!"  The event felt like a bit of an equalizing moment and I had a very distinct "we all have to sit down to you know what, don't we" reaction.  I asked myself, "is this the end of the Starchitect?"

Thought I do not know when the terms "Starchitect" and "Starchitecture" were first used, I seem to recall them coming into frequent use more than a decade ago when Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum opened in Bilbao, Spain.  Back in 1997, completion of the new building literally put an unheard-of town in northern Spain on the map for tourists and art aficionados around the world.  In 1998 when I entered Georgia Tech to study architecture, Bilbao was still fresh on everyone's mind, and the concept of the "Starchitect" was ingrained in us young, idealistic, star-crossed young designers.

For more than a decade now, architects like Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, Santiago Calatrava, Renzo Piano, and Rem Koolhaas (to name a few) have been riding a wave of landmark, high-profile projects destined to transform cities in the way Bilbao was transformed by the Guggenheim.  In Beijing, the new CCTV complex, for example, along with the trendy Olympic architecture we all ogled over last summer, was intended to usher China into the new millennium in the eyes of the world.  Now with the burning of a landmark work of architecture by one of the world's most prestigious architects, are we supposed to think now that China is all talk?  After all, we know from the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics that China can put on quite a show when they want to, all the while controlling their very carefully-crafted "official" image.  What is the official story on this one?  This is a difficult event to sweep under the rug unnoticed.

I suppose it is a bit of an inauspicious moment for architecture, which is already starting to feel the pains of the global economic slowdown we can not seem to hear enough about in the media.  Just a few weeks ago, in fact, at a gathering with a few of my Yale classmates, I was saddened to learn that several of them had recently lost their jobs, even at prestigious, well-established architecture firms.  True, even I tend to get a little giddy when I see the next "new" thing from the big-name architects, but I also continue to struggle with the ego of it all, while all the while Beijing was burning.  What is it all for?  Is this the end of the era of the Starchitect and the Bilbao effect?  Has the playing field been leveled?  (Alas, can I hope?)

And to further prove that even well-entrenched, 101 year old Modernist Starchitects must take a blow to their own ego from time-to-time, it was recently reported that Oscar Niemeyer's project for the "Plaza of Sovereignty" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Brasilia was halted before it ever started over what seem to be concerns about budget as well as preservation of the urban fabric of central Brasilia's Monumental Axis.  Oh well.  At least even Modernism is up for preservation these days!

It's okay, Oscar, don't be discouraged.  Rem's got nothing on you!  You were designing icons while he was still in diapers!

[In an curious side note to the this story, I found it interesting to find online that conspiracy theorists have been quick to point out how the fact that the structure of the Mandarin Hotel is still standing after its vigorous fire has proven that 7 World Trade Center, which collapsed during a fire hours after the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, was "imploded."  Some people just have to make trouble don't they!]

Five Down, Two to Go

Today I took my "Building Systems" exam. This particular test covers mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems with a couple of calculations and code requirements thrown in for good measure. I left the testing center feeling relatively comfortable with my performance, although there were a few calculations I did not have time to complete in time and so my answers were basically my first guess.

As with my other exams, I expect it will be about two months or so before I hear whether I passed or not, at which point I hope I will have completed my last two exams remaining!

Pass, Pass

This past weekend I got some very good news in the mail:  I passed two more AREs!  This means that, as of today, I have passed 3 of my exams (Site Planning & Design, Structural Systems, and Schematic Design), I am awaiting one score for a test I took in January, and I have 3 more tests to go.  I have been diligent about following my "one test every 4 weeks" schedule and so I will be taking Building Systems next week.  This keeps me on track to finish testing in April, which was my goal when I started taking the AREs in October.

A New Toy

For Christmas this year, Kim and I bought a new digital SLR camera: a Canon Rebel XSi. Although we have had the camera for a while now, I had not really had much time to play around with it until this past weekend when I went with my photographer friend Ken to shoot around Yale. Ken also shoots with a Canon, so I enjoyed getting a few pointers from him to get me back into the swing of shooting with a SLR (I used to shoot with an old film SLR many years ago). I have always enjoyed photographing architecture, and I look forward to many more years of enjoyment with our new toy.

I just so happens that Ken beat me to the blogosphere with his description of our excursion--you can check out his photographs on his blog.  Below are posted some of my own photos for your perusal.  Enjoy!

Beinecke Rare Book Library

Master's House at Trumbull College

Berkeley College

Harkness Tower

Commons

The Book & Snake

Stoeckel Hall

This Day in History: Jackson Pollock's Birthday

Today is action painter Jackson Pollock's birthday (b. 1912-d. 1956).  Although I have not always been a fan of Pollock's work, he was instrumental in the evolution of abstract expressionism, one of my favorite painting movements.

Google honored Pollock today with an image of one of his paintings on their search header.  Clicking on the painting resulted in a number of interesting internet hits, including this really cool website.  Now you too can make your very own digital dribble!

On another note, the 2000 movie Pollock, starring Ed Harris, is well worth renting if you have not seen it already.  In addition to the movie's artful dramatization of Jackson Pollock's rise and demise, the music by Jeff Beal is quite stunning, successfully capturing the frenetic pace of Pollock's art and life.

Four Down, Three to Go

This afternoon I took my fourth ARE:  "Building Design & Construction Systems."  I think this was probably the hardest of the tests I have taken so far because the range of topics covered was very broad and so it felt difficult to prepare for.  Also, there were three drawing components to complete in 2 hours 45 minutes, which felt a little tight.  As with the other drawing components I have taken, when you get near the end of the testing time, you have to make a decision:  do I nit-pick and play around with my proposed solution to make it better (and risk submitting an incomplete solution when the time runs out!), or do I leave it as it is, even though it may include minor mistakes.  I have chosen the latter option each time:  it is, I think, far better to have a complete solution with a few mistakes than to have one that really is not complete at all.

Although I did feel the test was fairly difficult, I left the testing facility feeling comfortable if not confident in my performance.  However, like the other two tests I am awaiting scores for, I will hold my true celebration until receiving my final score in the mail, whenever that may be!

Each time I get nervous about the tests, I have to remind myself that I do not have to overperform, I simply have to meet the minimum requirements.  I am generally not a "minimum requirements" kind of guy, but in this case I am just trying to power through all 7 exams as quickly as I reasonably can.  Next up, "Building Systems" in February!

I Passed My First ARE!

Today in the mail I (finally!) received the score for my first ARE (Site Planning & Design), which I took back in October.  I am pleased to report that I passed!

According to NCARB's website, Prometric recently experienced some scoring delays related to the new ARE 4.0.  I am hoping these kinks are worked out now and it will not take more than two months to grade each of the other tests.  Perhaps by the time I take my fourth test in mid-January, I will know whether I passed the other two I have already taken.

Before I started taking my tests, several of my recently-licensed friends advised me to set a pretty steady test-taking schedule and stick to it.  I have been successful so far in sticking to my one-test-a-month schedule so far, and with continued perseverance (and passing grades!) I will complete all my tests by April!

Three Down, Four to Go

I just got back from taking my third registration exam: Schematic Design. The test material was not really difficult, but the time constraints made it feel a bit difficult. In the first of two exercises, I had one hour to lay out the interior partitions and furniture for a suite of offices. In the second, I had four hours to lay out the schematic plans for a two-story building given a specific program and code requirements. Neither of these exercises created great architecture, but I hope that I was able to fulfill the program and code requirements sufficiently. There were certainly some things I wished I could have clarified or tweaked, but at a some point, you are just beyond the point of no return! I know I could have been more clear on a few components of each layout, but I am hoping that I made only minor, non-critical errors in the exam.

As with the other two exams I have already taken, I will reserve judgment on the level of difficulty of the test until I receive my scores; however, I do feel optimistic and hopeful that this particular exam went pretty smoothly.

Incidentally, I have not yet received any scores from my other two exams, even though I took the first one two months ago. Maybe I'll get a few passing scores for Christmas!

This Day in History: Feliz Aniversario!

If you have ever met me, you probably figured out that I love Modern architecture.  If you know me well, then you probably know that I love Latin American Modern architecture in particular.  If you know me really well, then you have probably heard me talk about my admiration for the great Brazilian Modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer.  And if you know me really, really well, then you know that my little black dachshund, Oscar, is named, not after the famous hot dog brand, but after Mr. Niemeyer himself!

OK, so I admit that I am a little bit of a Latino-phile and Modernist wannabe, but with good reason:  today, Oscar Niemeyer turns 101 years old!  At a century-plus-one and still practicing, Niemeyer is the last living of the great Modern architects.  What an amazing life, what an amazing career, what an amazing legacy!

In school, I took every research paper opportunity possible to write about Niemeyer and his architecture, and at work last year, I applied for Pickard Chilton's first annual architectural travel award--my proposal to spend two weeks in Brazil researching Modern architecture was overwhelmed by Niemeyer buildings.  Somewhere in that proposal was also the glimmer of hope that I might be able to meet Mr. Niemeyer while in Brazil, which has been a long-time dream of mine.  (And somewhere even deeper, on the outside edge of possibility, would be having the opportunity to meet him when Kim and I travel to Brazil to complete the adoption of our two children!  You can read about this adventure on our adoption blog.)

I know someday I will have the opportunity to visit Brazil and to experience some of Mr. Niemeyer's buildings first-hand, but I also know that I have to be realistic that my dream of meeting him becomes less and less probable with each passing year.

So, in case I never get to meet you, Mr. Niemeyer, congratulations on your 101st birthday!  Congratulations on your long and exuberant life and a on your long and distinguished architectural career.  Thank you for your incredible and indispensable contribution to the legacy of Modern architecture in the world, and thank you for your consistent inspiration to me throughout my architectural studies and career.

Feliz Aniversario, Senhor Niemeyer!  Muitas felicitações!