Australia Pavillion at the Shanghai Expo 2010

So, a friend of mine suggested that before we head over to CitySwitch Izumo, Japan that we should go to the Shanghai Expo 2010 which will be open for 5 months starting May 1st. I thought it would be a great idea! I've never been to an Expo before and after the amazing reception from Abundant in the Venice Biennale in 2008 I though Australia's stake in the architectural world could do nothing but improve...how wrong i was.

Obviously, I'd googled the expo and started looking at some really interesting pavilions. (One of note, the UK one which just looks AMAZING!!) Anyway back on topic. In scrolling through I came across the Australia pavilion and it was quite a sight to behold: A GIANT RUSTED EXTRUDED BLOB with metal latticed glass (I can only assume) viewing areas. If you haven't seen it yet, strap your eye balls in and because I'm taking them on the ride of their lives.

images from http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/03/shanghai_prepares_for_expo_201.html

I really do hope you're currently going WTF to this because this is amazing. Not in the UK Pavillion amazing but it's definitely one of those national pavillions you laugh at because you get to say, "at least its not ours". BUT NOW IT IS! What is this rusted blob? How will the world see Australia like this? It's like a metallic unsuccessful version of Uluru. Even the scaled down version which sits perched behind a petrol station in the Tea Gardens on the NSW Central Coast is more successful.
Truth be told not only am I slightly angry at the fact that this is the national pavillion, i'm just confused. It's like we stepped back in time to when 3d modelling software was just the most forefront thing and that making the blob was just mindblowing!

image from http://shanghai.cultural-china.com/html/Latest-news-on-World-Expo/World-Expo-Museum/200911/04-4112.html

Quite possibly even more odd are possibly the descriptions of whats happening inside:

"When visitors pass through the threshold of 1788, the colour turns to sepia, like the faded explorer maps of old. The colour shifts to black and white and then full colour, in line with the photographic technology of the times.

Thousands of miniature explorers, politicians, sports people, inventors and ordinary folk will be lifted out of packing cases and slotted into installations on the floor, roof and walls. A blue Esky protrudes from one wall, waiting for diplomats to decide which beverage deserves to rest there: Tooheys, VB or something pricier, such as Coopers? And waiting patiently in her packing case is a near-life-sized Cathy Freeman, in white hooded running suit with Olympic torch held aloft." (http://www.theage.com.au/world/big-rusty-shed-gives-china-a-taste-of-australian-life-20100129-n45y.html)

I'm not entirely sure what's happening there! As much as I know, we're not all that stuff that's listed above. Remember, this pavilion costs $83 million. I'll leave you with an "interesting" (a little disturbing) installation that been installed.

image from http://www.thinkots.com/Think!OTS/Blog_-_What_are_we_up_to/Entries/2010/2/5_Act_3_pods_are_Up.html
um... pods or cocoons?

Website Design - Online Presence

Online presence is very important to the development of CitySwitch. For internationals it will be the first thing they may see in relation to the organisation.
Here are some good websites with tips and precedents:

Noupe
http://www.noupe.com/design/simplicity-in-good-web-design-advantages-how-to.html

image from http://www.noupe.com/design/simplicity-in-good-web-design-advantages-how-to.html

This website's really interesting because it emphasise simplicity which is sometimes very much lost in website design when people don't approach it like print based media. It is important to remember white space, the way the public will "read" the website (chances are scanning it) and maintaining a heirachy of information.

MyInkBlog
http://www.myinkblog.com/2009/03/21/4-principles-of-good-design-for-websites/

image from http://www.myinkblog.com/2009/03/21/4-principles-of-good-design-for-websites/

A great website with precedents, most of the content relates to image and text use. It emphasises the "correct" use of colour and contrast to the important parts of the website. Due to the fact that people scan a website. The graphic nature of the typology as well as its sparseness is really helpful in rendering the website useful.

NY Times Personal Tech
http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/10-ways-to-design-a-good-web-site/

Ironically this website's really dry however the information it gives about prepping before design and navigation through the website. It notes the importance of clarity through all parts of the website design and use process.

Smashing Magazine
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/01/31/10-principles-of-effective-web-design/

Yet again, a dry website however very clear. It dictates that you should make it easy and don't make users think. That's basically the gist of all the website's I've seen and that are in this post. Simple and easy wins the race.

Organisation Precedents Part 2.

More Precedents

IDEO

http://www.ideo.com/image from http://www.ideo.com/

Ideo is a global design and innovation consultancy firm which encompasses a broad scope, they're very clear about their explanations about what they're involved in. Each component of the business is clearly written out. Graphic quality of their web presence is also very good.

Red Balloon
http://www.redballoondays.com.au/

image from http://www.redballoondays.com.au/

A business that sells experiences like ballooning or sky-diving, but its about the ability for us to sell the cityswitch workshops as experiences. Especially for people not directly engaged in the architectural or artistic fields. The ability to be an architect for a week or an urban artist for a week.

Tomato
http://www.tomato.co.uk/

image from http://www.tomato.co.uk/

Graphic design firm with really strong visual presences for clients, not really on their website though.

Organisation Precedents

Organisation Precedents.
In discussing the direction of CitySwitch, here are some precedents to keep in mind in relation to the way the organisation is set up and what kind of framework it utilises in its workshops/labs. This features some easily transferable formats which have been successful for their creators.

Eyebeam: Art and Technology Centre
http://eyebeam.org/

image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyebeam/132467862

An interesting precedent for the method that a research centre becomes cool and has a community formulated around it.
Sadly the website is boring and difficult to navigate.

Urbanology
http://www.urbanology.org/

image from http://www.urbanology.org/

Urbanology is a great precedent to be looking at as they frame their project very well, articulating it as a "think & action tank active in the fields of urban development, design, architecture and new media".( http://www.urbanology.org/) . It's also interesting to see how the creator has developed a format which can be transplanted to a number of locations.

Flash Researchhttp://www.thelivingnewyork.com/fr.htm

image from http://www.thelivingnewyork.com/index.htm

A really interesting group who have created a really strong and simple framework for the creation of architectural urban interventions. Under $1000, less than 3 months to work on, full scale prototyping. A clear and simple framework is required for CitySwitch.

PechaKucha
http://www.pecha-kucha.org/

image from http://www.pecha-kucha.org/

A really strong framework for ideas exchange which has allowed PechaKucha to spread to 286 cities around the world. It doesn't specify the ideas which are explored but gives a framework for a direct, quick and simple mode of communication.

Urban Revitalisation Projects

Collection of some organisations/people involved with creating interesting urban environments:

Rebar
A group from San Fransisco, very inventive and edgy approaches to the built environment. Creators of the Bushwaffle and the Annual Park(ing) Day. Can be looked at as a business model. They work as fee-for-service as well as for community causes. They articulate their position very well through their online content:
"the development of urban and social abundance" and "We do business in both free-for-service and social benefits contexts"
www.rebargroup.org

Smart City
A group of universities continuing the discussion into the occupation and planning of cities. They have similar aims to what may form to create the CitySwitch Lab:
"power of citizens + inclusive visioning" and "improved professional support of the viable future"
www.smartciti.org

Urban Screens
An example of the specificity which can be present in the way that cityswitch function as a business. Should it be consultancy on one very specific element of urban revitalisation or broader. How do we formulate a format which can clearly articulated as our role in an urban environment?
www.urbanscreens.org

Urban Art
Distinct from the above two projects, these are not specifically liked with urban revitalisation however utilise the urban landscape as not only a canvas but also an interactive space.

Banksy
British Graffiti artist who's work is not only amazing in a graphic sense but also in the way it plays with current political, cultural and social issues. Very well known around the world and who's work now is worth thousands of pounds.
www.banksy.co.uk

Link to 20 subversive works of Urban Guerrilla Street Art
http://weburbanist.com/2009/06/14/20-subversive-works-of-urban-guerrilla-street-art/

Phrases to be searching online:
Non-government or grass-roots Urban Revitalisation
Guerilla Urbanism
Collective Visioning
Urban installations

Venus Chair by Tokujin Yoshioka

For material experimentation in Architecture, it's important to look not only in architecture but also into other disciplines such as Industrial Design, Fashion, Interior Design, Set Design...the possibilities are endless. The materials in these fields however need to be reconfigured and rescaled for use in an architectural context.

Venus Chair by Tokujin Yoshioka
http://www.dezeen.com/2008/10/05/venus-chair-by-tokujin-yoshioka/

A unconventional material for furniture, Yoshioka utilises an interesting process wherefore "the chair is “grown” in a tank as crystals form on a sponge-like substrate" (Dezeen Magazine - www.dezeen.com) The possibilities of this material do not only lie in just its aesthetic properties but also in the opportunities for it to play with the light of a space, the perceived weight of a building element (such as a wall) and the opportunity for reducing the transportation costs and emissions in using a material that is produced on site.