The London Underground

The London Underground: a designers dream.

The designer of the current London Underground map, Harry Beck (aka Henry Beck) was not graphic designer. In fact he was an train engineering draughtsman who had been made redundant by the London Transport authorities due to economic reasons. He created a much simpler, non geographic version of the map in which distances were distorted and areas moved around. This enabled the user to see more clearly where the train lines intersected and view all underground station names with ease and clarity. It is clear to see how things such as electrical circuit diagrams which would have been used in his profession as a draughtsman, have influenced the form of the map. His designs were initially met with caution and doubt, since he had produced something that the authorities believed to be too radical for the general public. Beck received just five guineas for his work. The success of the diagrammatic map can be seen in public transport systems across the world, most of which have been influenced or directly adapted Beck's design to become city specific.

Watch the BBC 4 Production which must have been filmed in 1987 when the Docklands Light Railway first opened. The film is made before the introduction of zones to the map and is a really interesting retrospective view from the 80s rejuvination of the underground.

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Abandoned

Today I am bringing you images of some interesting looking abandoned buildings. The way these have been shot are quite beautiful in some instances and make you wonder why they haven't been snapped up by some savvy investor to be reinvented and reused as some luxury accommodation.

Well here is your answer. The pictures above are from San Zhi, Taiwan. It is abandoned city in the North of the country and was initially intended for luxury accommodation. However during the construction of these pod like apartments, there were several fatalities.

The government funded project was then halted due to lack of funds and the entire project was brushed under the carpet due to the unusual amount of deaths during site construction. The government wanted to be seen as far away from it as possible to avoid bad press.

An aerial view of the site can be seen here



The above photograph (car) was taken in Centralia, Pennsylvania where an underground coal fire has been burning for years, deeming it an unsafe area to live in. Quite an amazing story:

"Johnathan Faust opened Bull’s Head Tavern in Centralia in 1841, and Centralia was incorporated as a borough in 1866. The anthracite coal industry was the principal employer in the community until the 1960s, when most of the companies went out of business. An exposed vein of coal ignited in 1962 thanks to weekly garbage burning, and as a result a huge underground coal fire commenced. Attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful, and it continued to burn throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Adverse health effects were reported by several people due to the carbon monoxide produced.

In 1979, locals became aware of the scale of the problem when a gas station reported a fuel temperature of 172 degrees Fahrenheit (77.8°C). This provoked widespread attention, boosted in 1981 when a 12-year-old almost plunged to his death as a 4 foot wide, 150 foot deep sinkhole suddenly opened beneath his feet. In 1984, $42 million was spent on relocation, with most residents moving to the nearby Mount Carmel and Ashland. In 1992, Pennsylvania condemned all houses within the borough, meaning that of the 1,000+ residents in 1981 - only a handful now remain - mainly priests. The fire still rages on, and according to experts could do so for another 250 years."

Source: listverse.com

Photograph above with stained glass was taken in Pripyat, Ukraine which had been home to most of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant workers. the place was abandoned due to threat of radiation after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The city will not be safe for human habitation for several years to come, and even then it will be a long time before people consider it healthy to develop once again.

Top 10 Abandoned Places

Walt Disney Concert Hall

After visiting San Francisco and Cosa Mesa (Orange County), I travelled to downtown Los Angeles, where I stayed right around the corner from Frank Gehry's awesome Walt Disney Concert Hall.

This amazing building is something which I could not have prepared myself for. After watching 'Sketches of Frank Gehry' nearly two years ago, I was inspired by his unorthadox architecture and creative approach to public buildings. He is a master of his field and I have a lot of respect for him. To see a Gehry building in reality is a wonderful experience. I stumbled across it whilst trying to find LA's MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art). I believe it must be viewed several times, at varying times of day in order to see it in as many lights as possible. I only visited twice due to my limited stay, but it left a lasting impression.

On the plane on the way back to England, several weeks later, I was subjected to the awful Steve Carrel film, 'Get Smart'. The end segment of the film is set in Gehry's concert hall and even though the film was cringe worthy, seeing the building shot by a Hollywood film crew, brought back great memories.

You can walk up and around the building, through the converging planes of silver sheets. The space is clever and exploring it is a joy. Inside there is a bar made from thick glass layers. It's a must see for those in LA.

Sketches Of Frank Gehry

I saw this documentary film about a year ago. It was shown to me by my tutor at the time, Connie Hwang of the University Of Florida, Graphic Design program. It truly left its mark and has been an inspiration to me ever since. Directed and narrated by Sydney Pollock, it takes you on a voyage into Gehry's life, his stunning architecture and the way he creates such breathtaking buildings.

What I find most intriguing about Gehry's work is the human connection that he has with a building. He personalises it so intensely, with an innate feel of what will work and what will not. The faith that he holds in his own judgement has led him to create such buildings as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain and the Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles, USA to name but a few.

The films real focus is upon the transition from his sketches: mere scribbles on the paper, to fantastic works of art, which some say can be threatening to artists wanting to exhibit their work in his buildings. I really admire Gehry's involvement in all projects and how he is not afraid to fail. Yet he often does. Critiques are never too easy on Gehry's buildings and they often cause a stir in the public eye. But this film has reinforced my already admirable view of a talented and hard working man. His wisdom and patients come through in the documentary and make him my number one modern architect.