ARCHITECTURAL AND Anthropological Photo Journal KKB350 | European Study Tour
introduction|
beyond the excitement of new places & people that comes naturally with traveling, lies a deeper notion ; one of a more universal nature. Observing our species' diversity across the planet. This can be captured in many ways; through conversation with locals, observation of behaviour, analysis of 'habitat', The latter of these being the most relevant to architecture. These urban observations require time and attention to understand or capture. for this reason, photography serves as the perfect tool. The act of photography does not involve merely pointing and shooting, but the careful capturing of a scene. this requires thoughtful attention paid to what is happening in and beyond the frame. going back over the photos has not only acted as a useful visual representation of the setting but also a mental bookmark to the train of thought that was had at the time. this is a collection of scenes I came across during my travels and my thoughts on what was being observed.
Copenhagen, Denmark
refined, pronounced and logical, however slightly sterile., Copenhagen is renowned for its modern architecture and urban planning methods. there is an admirable balance of efficiency & Design integrated on every level of the CITY which seems to be tied to the narrow socioeconomic divide.. oVER SUCH A SHORT STAY IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DELVE DEEPLY INTO THE CULTURE, but upon scraping the surface of the nightlife, we were met by an extremely friendly and accessible danish charm. This charm embodied itself in some local bar owners and THEY represented the same sophistication and maturity of the urban realm.
aller media headquarters | 19 nov 2013
opposite our hotel was a commercial district, full of extremely respectable buildings. upon arriving from the airport in the early hours of the morning, an excited walk around the vicinity showed us a unique perspective of such buildings lying dormant.
Anonymous building | 19 nov 2013
this is one of the many hidden architectural gems scattered across the Copenhagen cityscape. not representing innovation or economic stability but a brave & bold creation of place that has existed here throughout history.
Ă˜rstedsparken | 20 nov 2013
vibrancy and contrast were a common thing to find whilst exploring copenhagen. powerful moments could be found in the most unexpected places.
Nordea Bank Headquarters by Henning Larsen Architects | 19 nov 2013
this photo captures the sensitivity to lighting levels and colours used in copenhagen. The street lighting is warm and dim,, as to not overpower the ambiance shed by the moon. Rather than having bright lighting in inconsistent locations as we do in brisbane, creating dark pockets, Copenhagen seemed to always be covered in a dim but consistent warmth, combating the temperature. and allowing your body to sense and embrace the dark of night.
kastellet Gate | 20 nov 2013
inside the passage through the wall remained an incredibly preserved slice of history. this was a very elegant 'fort', surrounded by natural walls and a moat, passing through this gate felt like entering a sanctuary.
Anonymous industrial buildings | 20 nov 2013
i was looking out for the new recycling plant that is currently under construction, which is supposed to blow a massive ring of condensed air from its chimney every 15 minutes. Although we couldn't find it, i did capture these old towers across the harbour.
Anonymous Canal | 20 nov 2013
beautiful sunset on our last evening in copenhagen. As we marvelled at the beauty, locals went on by with their usual routine. Naturally, many of the thingS we found to be new and exciting, were just part of the daily life of locals. There's a lot to be said about being complacent with the urban environment that we are used to.
The Amalie Garden on the Waterfront | 20 nov 2013
consistently in the urban form throughout Copenhagen buildings complemented each other in an exciting but simple manner. in this way, often each building's design waS free from 'ego' and simply but elegantly fulfilled its purpose.
the royal library | 20 nov 2013
the curving levels in this void were extremely beautiful, however i think my favourite part of the royal library was how it smoothly flowed into the the adjointing heritage building. the study facilities in this library were absolutely packed with seemingly passionate and dedicated students.
copenhagen central station | 21 nov 2013
in a recently developed western country, such as Australia, catching a train feels like a business transaction between the user and an exploitational infrastructure company. Getting the train from Copenhagen to hamburg and, later in my travels, from Amsterdam back to hamburg then to paris, left me with feeling more connected to the reality of that transport, Rather than sheltered and disconnected. the history behind the infrastructure and the way in which it is a celebrated urban feature contributed to this appreciation.
hAMBURG, GERMANY
Hamburg has a population relatively similar to that of brisbane and shares similar amounts of urban sprawl and centralization of cultural pockets. Situated slightly inland from a large river mouth, hamburg has a familiar utilization of the water's edge to that in Brisbane, however its river splits and ends near the city. This leads to many small canals throughout the city, although they are not celebrated to the same degree as Amsterdam or Delft, There is A celebration of the port and industrial facilities that line the southern banks..
canal in nikolaifleet | 22 nov 2013
the stretches of warehouses in this district seemed at times a little homogenous. however, after several visits it was easy to realize they were buzzing with life. there were certain pockets which suffered negatively from the repetitative nature of these warehouses but on the whole they achieved a multitude of demographic spread difersifying local business.
hamburg central lines | 21 nov 2013
train networks in most of the cities we visited were celebrated. much like our riverside express way ploUGHs into our cbd in a brutal manner, the trainlines ploUGHed into the heart of hamburg.
view from hotel in Borgfelde | 23 nov 2013
waking up to a setting like this made combating the cold a little easier in the mornings. smoke slowly rising from chimNies or bathroom vent gave a sense of connection with all the others living out their morning routine, adding some form of transparency to the heavy brick of the local buildings.
fish market design district | 22 nov 2013
i thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the fish packing district. there were several retail centers focused around interior and industrial design, all in an exciting architectural district; the rawness of the context, right in the middle of the harbor littered with port facilities.
DDB Tribal headquarters | 23 nov 2013
on the way home after a long day out on hired bicycles, this was one of the more aggressive pieces of contemporary architecture due to the triangular plan,, yet the subtlety of the facade softens this..
anonymous building in nikolaifleet | 23 nov 2013
again in the warehouse district, some of the buildings were delightful, bordERing on something out of a fairYtaLE. this photo was taken from the carpark of a function space dedicated to hamburg's upcoming urban development and masterplanning. inside was a huge wooden physical model of the city with lovely lazercut models of proposed buildings. this sort of dedication to public engagement regarding masterplanning was relieving to see.
binnenalster | 17 dec 2013
festivities around the lake in the city fostered so many types of interactions. i learnt from locals that crime is unheard of. shortly after a group of rough looking teenagers approached me, with a lighter to help open my beer that i was struggling to open otherwise. THey were lovely and it was an interaction which backed up the previous statement. Hamburg did seem to foster a sense of maturity and progression.
view of harbor | 17 dec 2013
whilst out ON a long walk with my host, the second time i went to hamburg after amsterdam, we came across this beautiful sight. one of many mingled into the meeting of industry and social realm.
on the road to liege| 29 nov 2013
after stopping at a lookout near the border of three countries, the light was falling with such delicacy contrasting to the dark lure of the woods.
on the road to cologne | 24 nov 2013
the bus had pulled over for a lunch break and to refuel. I went for a walk into the forest off the side of the highway to see what might be found. i came across what i assume to be an old guard or sentry lookout from wwii. The isolation of this reflects in some ways the german youth's attitude towards the war. one particular hamburg local told me they like to acknowledge it as something from a distant past and hope that global views of germany have moved on.
Luxembourg
an incredible blend of sophistication, culture, landscape and history. I find it hard to describe the AWE of Luxembourg so hopefully the photos can do it justice.
german farm, road to luxembourg| 26 nov 2013
out the bus window, this remote country farm was a glimpse of german life outside of built up areas. boasting a wide range of caravans and a quaint farm house (this was not an abnormality), it would seem farmers are able to foster a stable and enjoyable life outside of the main cities.
german farm, road to luxembourg| 26 nov 2013
a beautiful field, likely recently harvested prior to winter setting in. frost is starting to gather on grass more commonly and the year grows later and we make the climb to luxembourg. The weather cycle took adapting to as a tourist but it is obviously something the annual human cycle accommodates. Being so ACCLIMATISED to tropical life, it was very enjoyable to experience the onset of a true winter.
road to luxembourg| 26 nov 2013
another example of the cold climate creating a powerful setting.
luxembourg, view from Adolphe Bridge | 26 nov 2013
luxembourg city has made a home for itself amongst some incredible landscape. a large valley consists mostly of old town with the newer developments residing on the top of wrapping edges of the peaceful river valley.
Anonymous building | 26 nov 2013
this is one of the buildings that adjoined the city hall square. it draws from a peculiarly large mixture of traditional architectural styles. with the history of the country being what it is, the surprisingly peaceful border of germany, France and Belgium, a rich architectural style is to be expected. there were no disappointments.
city hall by night | 26 nov 2013
the late night slow trickle of traffic through the city center, made for some nice light trails. to call it a city, however, i feel it necessary to highlight Luxemburg's incredible level of preservation, independence and isolation, which all contribute to something close to surrealism.
Philharmonie | 27 nov 2013
the cultural district was phenomenal, easily one of the highest quality precincts i've ever experienced. It was however, almost deserted. it is hard to judge the success of the area as a public realm, as our stay was short but in terms of an architectural experience it was mindblowing.
I. M. Pei's mudam | 27 nov 2013
very particular landscape features had softened the large spaces between buildings adding to the surrealism of it being near deserted. it was so powerful we all went into a near meditative state of appreciation as we explored the area. staff at the museum were so friendly and accommodating, they gave off the vibe that they really wanted us to enjoy and experience it all, as they waived an entry fee when we hesitated to enter if we had to pay.
I. M. Pei's mudam | 27 nov 2013
the museum is built atop the ruins of an old fortress and the palette, form and use of light reflects the old battlement. This is a very successful reflection of historic form represented in the contemporary building.
MusĂŠe de la Forteresse | 27 nov 2013
it's no surprise to see remnants of fortresses scattered over luxembourg, particularly on the outcrops overlooking the winding river valley. wandering around the planning of this was an intriguing insight into military techniques of a time past. it was all in marvellous condition, and rather than being preserved and presented it was just raw and immersive.
Cour de justice de l'Union europĂŠenne | 27 nov 2013
this was another spectacular building that was close to abandoned, yet this only added to the grand experience of the space. It wasn't until after visiting the Louvre that i found a real appreciation of the placidity of the court of justice and mudam museum. the architecture was very powerful, as a court should be, but there was a strong level of connectivity to the ground in the low profile design, with a high level of detail in the finishing.
Passerelle Bridge | 27 nov 2013
one of several large structures connecting the upper sides of the valley, the old bridges of luxembourg show an endearing predominance in the landscape and the dedicated service to maintaining such landmarks. The weight of the enormous stone pillars dominates the gorge and the raw materiality is a testament to the impressive engineering of the era of construction, roughly 1860.
old town | 27 nov 2013
the typical palette on the traditional houses of luxembourg are of light pastels. There is a strong sense of community, largely seeding from the small scale of luxembourg city but also the consistency of the immersion in the traditional form of their urban realm.
old town| 27 nov 2013
the warmth of a traditional bar with an open fire place and a range of local brew, what more could you want. Intriguing conversation with a bartender was the icing on the cake. After a wonderful night out in old town, amongst a picturesque setting it's hard to imagine this beauty having anything but an extremely positive effect on lifestyle and general wellbeing of locals..
netherlands
a powerful and accessible diversity can be found across the netherlands, from the small but lively town of delft to the obscurities of amsterdam, there is something very welcoming about this region. The people were switched on and there were several conversations with locals regarding the disgrace of australia's current global standing, largely politically based, It was rewarding and relieving to hear our issues local to australia were as we suspected however, it's a shame to know how some of the world views australia.
Paviljoen de Witte, hague | 9 dec 2013
on the isolated beach front of the hague, lies this contemporary rendition of past styles. with nothing but the wind swept straw grass and a giant black mask sculpture surrounding it, Paviljoen de Witte invites a subtle sense
of curiosity.
city hall, delft | 8 dec 2013
we happened to be in delft for one of their largest annual celebrations, resulting in not only the massive public square adjoining the city hall but the surrounding streets also, being packed with locals. Live street bands, vendors and festivities brought the town to life. It was a fairly subdued event and the streets were occupied by mostly families, however a good time was not hard to find.
canal, delft | 8 dec 2013
even the equivalent of 'side streets' were stunning scenes. the number of bicycles and the human scale of the typology represent an execution of the ideas that combat the worst elements of a typical western city. talking to a local bartender proved very insightful as he told us of his studies at the delft university of architecture, urbanism and building sciences, which says it all in the title. delft seems to be a breeding ground for sophistication and holistic living principles.
canal, amsterdam | 14 dec 2013
amsterdam felt like the grown up parent city of delft. the urban realm here is governed by a similar understanding and approach. the relatable and consistent density across both cities show freedom from the paradox of unlimited growth and constant expansion. The paradigms embodied in these typologies are also represented in the lifestyle and culture. both are places that have wholly evolved, hand in hand, with the population. a sustainable symbiosis of humans in a habitat.
NOORDEREILAND, rotterdam |9 dec 2013
this outcrop, protruding into the river towards Erasmus Bridge, serves as a gem of history amongst a city that has moved too fast for its own good. It embodies a modernization of the principles that sculpted delft, amsterdam and many other successful european cities. what we saw of The rest of rotterdam, however, has gone down the trajectory of most western cities in terms of sky scraper typology and international economic goals. seeing such contrast ie. rotterdam vs amsterdam highlighted potential of dehumanization in cities.
commune, delft | 9 dec 2013
at one extreme end of the spectrum of typology and the resultant lifestyles, lie these communes. Consisting of communally owned land, under extensive subdivision. they represent stripped back living. solar panels to gather enough power to live comfortably in the twenty first century, whilst not over complicating things, small and efficient houses and large gardens of produce all contribute to the most organically formed self sustained communities i've ever seen.
on the road to amsterdam | 11 dec 2013
a lovely scene showing the low lying land and water courses seen across the netherlands. As we ventured closer to the ocean, the need for dykes became more obvious and the water channels through some of the farms were quite extensive.
Scheveningen pier, hague | 9 dec 2013
the only thing keeping the hague from feeling like an australian beach was the temperature. Ice cold water and a sharp wind reminded us where we were. None the less it was a beautiful but slightly rundown town without too much going on. perhaps in the summer it'd be more alive. It seems pretty similar to Canberra in that it's home to many international events
Scheveningen pier, hague | 9 dec 2013
the seemingly abandoned pier was a key visual feature of the hague beach front despite being put to little use. the promenade was more lively with restaurants and stores.
mills at Alblasserdam | 11 dec 2013
it's impressive how close to the banks these windmills are built. This image reminds me of all the beauty at risk with rising sea levels. They are stunning structures and show how the population once used the land.
horeca boerderij groenesteijn, utrecht | 11 dec 2013
this quaint garden sanctuary housed some impressive cacti in the greenhouse along with a delicate stretch of exotic gardens. unfortunately, with frost covering the grass, a large portion of the outdoor planting had died off for the year. thankfully though, the marvellous weather easily made up for any shortcoming that could be thrown our way.
Stedelijk & Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam | 14 dec 2013
a large group of people played soccer in the park that adjoined the Stedelijk and Van Gogh Museums. this was a dense cultural hub and thrived with a range of activity. both museums were of extremely high quality however my favourite museum experience in amsterdam was at the film museum, the eye. WE saw a screening of the original film of baraka by Ron Fricke.
paris, france
paris was wonderfully cultural, in an institutionalized way, surprisingly friendly, in a touristy way and just plain beautiful. It seems like paris's prime has come and gone, due to the ageing population and economic decline, there is no longer the opportunity for grass roots arts and culture to thrive. assumptions that the integration of residential, social and recreational typologies would support a thriving lifestyle were challenged. live music venues were close to nonexistent and those descent venues were extremely expensive and exclusive. More casual nightlife opportunities were closed by 10 or 11 pm due to neighbours complaining. with all that said, it is still a beautiful city full of life, reality just restricts it from living up to the cultural expectations and stereotypes formed in the western world.
Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir, paris | 20 dec 2013
lovely curvaceous form linking upper and lower portions of the banks. this was close to the small 'cbd' of paris, home to a pleasantly small number or sky scrapers.
brige near Eiffel Tower | 24 dec 2013
another bridge full of attitude, growing more interesting as it grows older.
Montmartre, paris | 23 dec 2013
cycling through paris can be risky business due to chaos on the roads and crowded footpaths. Montmartre is also a particularly hilly area, famous for its stairs. I felt for this young cyclist dodging traffic as he made his way past the montmartre cemetery.
Montmartre, paris | 23 dec 2013
the start of the journey up to SacrĂŠ CĹ“ur. the effects of 'excessive tourism' can be clearly seen in many of the key areas. the real talking to locals, it would seem that the real Parisian culture has been pushed to the outskirts, where students can afford to live. with this said, it's important to note the subjective nature of culture and that my opinion is formed by my student lifestyle.
under Pont d'IĂŠna, paris | 24 dec 2013
the river, la seine, is a lovely green colour, compared to the brown of the brisbane river, it seemed surprisingly clean. the shores are home to many boats, old and new, but many of the iconic ones are no longer functioning. This one is bolted to the river's edge.
buskers at pompidou | 25 dec 2013
the best busker i heard in my travels was sitting on a cardboard box outside the pompidou. his incredible music filled the square, which was a stark contrast to the also impressive institutional art inside the centre.
Perrault's Colonnade, paris | 26 dec 2013
Encapsulating the eastern portion of the louvre and acting as a main entrance, perrault's colonnade is one of the most impressive pieces of french classicism and is an interpretation of roman architectural rule.
inside Louvre Museum | 26 dec 2013
Internally, the louvre breaks all standards of scale and spatial quality, achieving a powerful and surreal experience. overwhelmingly large collections of history occupy every crevice of this enormous building and if it weren't for the hustle bustle of all the tourists, it'd be the most spiritual places i've ever seem. however, due to how busy it was, Mudam in luxembourg holds the title of most spiritually powerful.
view toward SacrĂŠ CĹ“ur from pompidou | 25 dec 2013
as the afternoon sun set, the view from exposed transitional zones on the exterior of the pompidou, began to evolve from pleasant to spectacular. from any altitude above several storeys, it's easy to see the consistent and decentralized typology of the city.
Pompidou square | 25 dec 2013
from the library levels of the pompidou, the square and public realm are extremely accessible, promoting public use of the library facilities which were as extensive if not more impressive than the art collections upstairs. once the sunset and the night cooled off, the square was left relatively unoccupied. in the cold of the night, activity thrives indoors, often leaving the extensive public realm underutilized.
typical square, paris | 25 dec 2013
squares lined with restaurants can be found all over paris. the price and authenticity of these restaurants varied immensely, between those in tourist destination areas and those in relatively unknown suburbs.
Conciergerie from Pont au Change, paris | 26 dec 2013
with construction between the 12th and early 14th century, Conciergerie is a magical view into the past. built in the french royal style. it has a long history, over the years it has housed both kings and prisoners along with sever other religious uses.
view from museum of architecture | 26 dec 2013
in between the sparkling and flashing of the Eiffel tower's lights, it can be quite tastefully illuminated.
Museum of Modern Art, paris | 24 dec 2013
the exterior court of this museum was shockingly dilapidated, covered in rubbish and graffiti. the untouched beauty of this structure can still be appreciated with an upward tilt of the head.
notre dame cathederal | 26 dec 2013
the impressive interior of notre dame is concealed behind this relatively modest facade. the unusually linear architecture style of the towers complements the more traditional form of the rear of the cathedral, and stands and one of the finest pieces of french gothic architecture.
Sacré Cœur | 23 dec 2013
Sacré Cœur was surrounded by the festivities of a Christmas market. no better way to reward the climb up to it than some hot spiced wine. I'd heard countless stories of dodgey salesmen tying string around people's arms to force a sale., unfortunately i didn't have the joy of negotiating this sort of interaction.
england
my time in england was split between london, brighton and a small country district, faversham. ending my journey around europe with an english speaking country was a relief whilst not lacking the excitement of cultural diversity and experience.
brighton pier | 4 jan 2013
brighton, being a university town, is supposedly quiet during holiday periods and most students leave and visit their families, particularly over christmas when the beach isn't overly inviting, however i experienced a brighton that was full of activity. mostly indoors though. The pier wasn't exactly packed but it was lively late into the night.
brighton beach | 4 jan 2013
the beach front was rather quiet and consisted mostly of residential buildings, with the life of the town really starting back a street or two from the beach. boutique retailers, small bars and restaurants filled the heart of town and sprawled out in all direction. although it wasn't overly busy, it was a beautiful sight and well lit enough to ensure security down on the beach.
brighton beach | 5 jan 2013
You can imagine in the summer these colourful store fronts are spilling out towards the ocean. the palette of greening copper metal work and pale yellow town houses stretches the entirety of the beach front.
secret market laneway, brighton | 5 jan 2013
the foundation of this hidden little market place is one that can be found through all elements of brighton. nightclubs hidden at the back of carparks, galleries and bars down tiny winding lanes and unique cuisine popping up unexpectedly.
Grand Union Tow Path, london | 7 jan 2013
from where i was staying, near kings cross, it was a pleasant walk along this tow path towards camden town, passing St Martins College of Arts on the way. There would be the occasional tow boat with one or two barges of supplies moving up stream. It was slow going for them as the topology raised, so did the water course, and to accommodate, large flood gates or water lifts were used to elevate the barges, each gate taking about 30 minutes
Grand Union Tow Path, london | 8 jan 2013
land use along this canal system was diverse and thriving. warm glow emitting from the restored buildings now housing ranging commercial tenants with residential developments littered along the way. the tow path was well lit and felt secure although parts where there was less activity seemed like areas to avoid.
view from Millennium Bridge, london | 9 jan 2013
i was amazed that such an array of historic buildings could be captured in one image. this rare sight was seen on the way to tate modern and buildings from at least six very different eras can be noted. the shard and Shakespeare's Globe are amongst these.
view from tate modern, london | 9 jan 2013
rather minimalist gardens of tate modern matched the brutalist building. the entry space was enormous and consisted of industrial services and a huge void above an expansive ramp. it could be argued to be rather wasted space but it certainly was powerful.
Hampstead Heath model boating pond, london | 10 jan 2013
hamstead heath was a very peaceful parkland in the northern suburbs of london. it was full of diverse pockets of nature, perfect to walk through, settle into and read a book or just appreciate. having such beautiful park areas promoted an immersion into nature
Portcullis House, london | 14 jan 2013
this industrial building opposite westminster abbey had a very interesting form, which was executed in a wonderful manner and took a high level of commitment to the design concept.
natural history musuem | 13 jan 2013
this was an absolutely awesome building. it housed some of the most interesting discoveries and achievements known to man, whilst being almost as grand as a structure.
roman ionic column, british museum | 9 jan 2013
although it's not rare to see such a clean and crisp example of such a column, it is rare to see it actually doing something. it was a relief to see some traditional architectural features being used as something more than a superficial add on. incredibly clean lines in the carved stone.
conclusion|
during my travels i came across a saying, "the past is as unknown as the future", which comments on the fluid nature of our memory. It is up to the individual to give meaning to the past and it is our responsibility to govern the value of our future. We are the custodians of life's meaning IT IS MY WISH that this book WILL aid in preserving the wonderful experiences of my travels and helps to share those experiences with others.