// judge a book by its cover

Some people like to think that they are beyond making assumptions based on looks and appearances, but they all do it, it's human nature. If you still won't admit you're the same superficial fuck like everyone else, this image should convince you. This work is done by Reclarkgable featuring the same couple in different attires. Sad but true, appearances do matter.

// ponte tower

I came across this disturbing image during my research on mass housing. It struck me as the most depressing and dehumanizing architectural moment to the best of my recollection, I was profoundly fascinated. Here's a quick rundown of the building. 

Ponte Tower, designed by Manfred Hermer, also known as the Ponte City Apartments, was built in Johannesburg in 1975, and is still the tallest residential skyscraper in Africa. It is a 54-story tube with an open center to allow additional light to reach its inner apartments. It was in its heyday one of the city's most coveted addresses, described by newspapers at the time as "heaven on earth".

Ponte Tower was a true example of Apartheid-era thinking. The apartments facing the outside of the building were designated for rich white families while the inner apartments, in permanent twilight, were meant for their black servants. Life in the building became truly brutal after the fall of Apartheid. As crime rose in the once-upscale Hillbrow neighborhood, numerous gangs moved into building. Ponte Tower became a center of organized crime activity, and life in the building become extremely unsafe. The building has been dubbed as ‘suicide central’ - people from all over town would go there to jump. The windows around the inner core were all barred, and most still are. Owners all but abandoned the structure to decay. At one point the garbage piled five stories high in the open inner courtyard of the building.

Fun Fact #1 Danny Boyle maker of Slumdog Millionaire and 28 Days Later has made a political thriller that was shot on location in this tower.

Fun Fact #2 There was reportedly a huge effort to clean up Ponte City in order to use it for athletes’ residence during World Cup 2010. However, there were questionable business dealings, controversy, and, eventually, no project.

Fun Fact #3 Ponte hit its lowest point when in 1998 it was suggested that it be turned into a prison, an idea soon discarded.

Dear Mr. Hermer, You know you failed as an architect when your building raises suicide rates, stars in a blood-fest thriller, and evokes convert-to-prison proposals.  

more unsettling images after the break

// happy hour

‘Happy Hour’ came from the marketing term used to describe the period in which bars and restaurants offer special discounts on alcoholic drinks. The period usually spans from 4pm to 8pm, a time that is popular amongst colleagues to gather for drinks after a long day of work. 

The duration in between the end of work/school and the family dinner is your time to unwind, relax and satisfy those suppressed urges; such as after work drinks, after school play dates or squeezing in some much needed exercise. This four-hours-long duration inadvertently makes a happy face when applied on to a clock. Whenever you check the time the visually striking image of the smiling face reminds you of the ‘happiest hours’ of the day, the self-indulging time zone we all crave for.

Material palate: 3mm plexiglass and aluminum sheeting. 

// color coordination overboard

I came across this during a site visit in downtown Toronto. It amused me how a neighbors rivalry could go this far. 

// happy twenty ten

// goodbye t-shirts

I scored these lovely custom made t-shirts from my previous employers and colleagues as farewell presents. So far I’ve been 3 for 3, let’s see if this ritual continues.

// architects head-to-head

Designboom publishes monthly interviews with prominent figures from the design field, a total of 20 architects have participated to date. The interviews are conducted in the same format where interviewees across the board are presented with the same set of questions. Such a format yields a head to head comparison between these architects and designers, it gives the readers the opportunity to measure them against their peers. Here is the list of questions they had to answer.

what is the best moment of the day?

what kind of music do you listen to at the moment?

do you listen to the radio?

what books do you have on your bedside table?

where do you get your news from?

I assume you notice how women dress. do you have any preferences?

what kind of clothes do you avoid wearing?

do you have any pets?

where do you work on your projects usually?

could you describe your style as a good friend of yours might?

is there any designer and/or architect from the past you appreciate a lot?

what current architects do you appreciate?

who would you like to design something for?

can you describe an evolution in your work from your first projects to the present day?

what project has given you the most satisfaction?

when you were a child, did you want to become an architect?

what are you afraid of regarding the future ?

any advice for the young?

I have gone through all the interviews on architects and selected my favorite responses for each question. Amongst the selections, some are in my opinion the most playful or intriguing and some are simply answers I can relate to. To enforce an unbiased selection, I was blinded to the identity of these interviewees. In the end I’ve tallied up the amount of chosen responses from each architect. To my surprise, I had chosen at least one answer from everyone, and Minsuk Cho (Mass Studies) graced the top spot with seven impressive responses.

I can see the results of this collation playing a role in choosing potential employers. Instead of solely judging the architects on their works, their character and personality also greatly influence the experience of a work term.  I mean this doesn’t mean I will bolt for Korea for my next job, but it did open new doors.

Click more to see the chosen responses.

// punk'd

What happens when you doze off during work.

// thumb up

My new ring has finally arrived. It is crafted by Japanese artist Arata Fuchi using pulverization techniques. Check out his other works here. 

Thanks Arata!

// dirty harry

Meet Haagse Harry, the most recognized 'Harry' in Holland. 

He is an aggressive, foul-mouthed knucklehead who roams the streets of Den Hague...a bona fide Dirty Harry.