2009 June « my design fix

‘”Sit tight – I’ll be back in 3 weeks…”

June 24, 2009 at 12:23 am | Posted in my design fix | Leave a comment

There won’t be any blog entries for the next few weeks as I’m heading off to Vietnam and Cambodia but check back from mid July as I should be back into it by then.

Aidan.

Onepoto Footbridge – Beca Architects

June 24, 2009 at 12:03 am | Posted in architecture | 1 Comment
Tags: architecture, bridge, glue laminated timber, new zealand

Photo via Flickr: Ray Tomes

The Onepoto Footbridge is a shared use bridge for pedestrians and cyclists located in the Onepoto Basin, north of Auckland. Completed in 2008, it was designed by Beca Architects for the North Shore City Council.

“This vision was developed into an architectural form simulating a breaking wave, realised through a series of glue laminated timber rib components. From a sustainable urban design view, the bridge creates interest that encourages pedestrians and cyclists to use it. It also provides comfort for pedestrians and cyclists, separating them from the road.” Beca Architects

There is some very nice detailing in this project such as the view shafts notched into some of the timber ribs to allow people passing by to catch glimpses of the surroundings. Lighting has also been set into the concrete path to differentiate between the pedestrian and cyclist sides.

I also think the timber ribs also look a bit like a fish or whale skeleton sticking out of the mud amongst the surrounding mangroves.

For further reading visit NZ Wood here.

Visit the Beca architects website here.

Photo via Flickr: beejayge

Photos: Simon Devitt

Photo: Simon Devitt

Click on the above elevation to view a pdf brochure of the project containing this drawing and other images at shwan.net

The Girl and The Tiki Head

June 22, 2009 at 1:14 am | Posted in my work, photography | Leave a comment
Tags: diana+, my photography, photography, tiki

the_girl_and_the_tiki_head Photo: Aidan Taylor 2009

This shot was taken with my Diana+ on 120 format slide film.

Domestic Bliss – Steven Klein

June 16, 2009 at 1:00 am | Posted in photography | 1 Comment
Tags: case study house #21, domestic bliss, mid century modern, photography

Domestic Bliss – An editorial photo shoot for W Magazine is a collaboration between Steven Klein and Brad Pitt and also starring Angelina Jolie. Shot in July 2005, the photo shoot was inspired by married life in the 1950’s and 60’s.

‘Brad Pitt opted to set it in 1963 (the year he was born), a time when the last traces of squeaky-clean Fifties were giving way to something more complicated. “The face was still being maintained,” Brad Pitt says, “but things were starting to crumble underneath.”’ - Christopher Bagley. W Magazine

The scenes, furniture, clothes and style play homage to the mid-century modern era but I particularly like how the photography of that era has also been referenced – the above image being inspired by one of the more iconic Case Study House photographs by Julius Shulman. Below is the photograph taken in Case Study House #21, which was designed by the architect Pierre Koenig (who is also standing in the image).

Case Study House #21 (1960) designed by Pierre Koenig. Photo: Julius Schulman

This theme of the perfect 50’s and 60’s lifestyle with the undertone of things being ‘not-so-perfect’ reminds me a lot of many of Shag’s paintings that depict a similar era. Check some out in a previous entry here.

cess_klein_29_h

Second photo: Julius Schulmann. All other photos: Steven Klein

Check out the many photos from this shoot at W Magazine here.

Also check out Steven Klein’s impressive website www.stevenkleinstudio.com to see these photos along with some of his other work.

Andrew Pommier

June 4, 2009 at 12:02 am | Posted in art | Leave a comment
Tags: andrew pommier, art, skateboard and snowboard culture

Currently residing in Vancouver, Canada, Andrew Pommier is an artist whose paintings and illustrations often depict quirky characters juxtaposed with elements of nature.

“His art mixes the polish and rawness of the creative process. Left exposed are the rough pencil lines referencing sketches from his steadfast companion, his sketchbook. The hurried daily records are then contrasted with deftly polished lines in paint, which contain the result of a darkly humorous reflection of the ironic collision between the constructed world of man and the natural world.” – imperfectarticles.com

I first got into his work after having seen it grace the pages of an issue of Monster Children magazine and since then I have been collecting whatever images of his work I can get my hands on! Now with the recent launch of his new website my life will be made a lot easier.

Check out Andrew’s work at his new website: www.andrewpommier.com

There’s also a cool interview with him at the evogear website here.

I love seeing inside an artist’s sketchbook – being able to see the exploratory sketches and gaining an insight into the process with the faint reference lines. Many of Andrew Pommier’s paintings still have this element of rawness to them too with pencil linework still showing and little sketches surrounding them. (The above Moleskin pages were the index page to Andrew’s website for a while when it was still under construction.)

man down