The sound of parametricism
Posted by
11 July 2012
From The newsdesk blog
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the sound of parametricism.
And while we’re here, have a look at Zaha’s boat, designed for London-based gallerist Kenny Schachter.
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Readers' comments (9)
Interesting that there was also a song right in the middle of the 1930s called the ‘Streamline Strut’.
Here’s a 1936 rendition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fkND9TU2dY
Maybe we’re half way through our creative patch. Let’s hope there’s no WWIII though at the other end like before.
Here's the actual 1935 version I remember:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKeE6shmsmg
Sometimes very close in this instance to the Sanchez breakbeat if that's what you call this form of genre.
Why does everything by Zaha Hadid look so predictable, so samey?
Here's some more Zaha, a year old now:
http://www.djdownload.com/mp3-detail/Chu+5/Zaha+Hadid/E-motion+Recordings/4020903
Did Zaha have her Part 3 by this point?
I seem to remember a book by Paul Hyatt saying 'dared you call Zaha Hadid not an Architect' because of not having the Part 3.
When I looked up her URL this time last year, she was the only architect on her site not to be titled architect on her profile and not to have her degree/diploma letters after her name.
There are two takes to this that I know of to date...
1. you get roped into acting as architect before the qualifying procedure; and/or
2. like the old Robert Adam you detest being called an architect in line with the rest of the crop. Apparently, dared you call the internationally renowned Robert Adam an architect when he was at his peak...
I know from my cataloguing of city archives drawings that I've seen the occasionally reputed architect use merely their own name/s free of insignias etc. despite being accepted as architects in the public eye.
Some household named practitioner's I've been told appeared to have quite some battle in retaining their independence from the profession. If Zaha Hadid had been deliberately doing this since qualifying in her academic education (in the 1970s) then it would appear she’s now lost the battle, unless I’ve misread something.
James Miller and assistant Richard Gunn were persuaded eventually to take the qualifying professional test perhaps through pressure either mid-way through or near to the end of their careers.
I’m not saying there aren’t more reasons why architects (uncapitalised spelling) or architectural practitioners find themselves in the shadow of recognition or even fame.
I can’t remember who it was that might have been the first to express such reactions, an Victorian practitioner (?) who deplored the cult of the architect in its early days, thereby preferring to remain anonymous rather than take the credit for his designs... Indeed many of us get to remain anon under a practice banner but not for long if the designs become successful...
I’m veering off the post topic if I go on. So perhaps the debate can be continued another day.
“...I know from my cataloguing of city archives drawings that I've seen the occasionally reputed architect use merely their own name/s free of insignias etc. despite being accepted as architects in the public eye...”
I forget to say ‘many of whom I hadn’t known were publicly accepted as architects until I’d Googled to see otherwise. I Google or check the PODs where designers haven’t given their profession on their drawings, unless it’s obvious they’re layperson applications.
Oh, one more point on the ‘sound of parametricism’ and its ‘streamline’ forerunner:
A Spotify search on “Parametric” throws up a wonder array (page worth) of examples.
Furthermore, a search on “Streamline” throws up 5 times as much because of its use in both the 1930s and the 1990s breakbeat techno culture it would appear.
Interesting how artists are therefore actually expressing what they feel is the sound of ‘parametrics and streamline’ rather than using sophisticated words per se.
I'm speaking to Roger Sanchez about the song on Monday. If anyone has suggestions for questions, let me know.
rubbish music, rubbish architectural designer.