A/O

Korable Block fun with the Korean Alphabet

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:00 -0500

If you are a friend with us, then you probably know what is inside of the box. The product will help your child or even BONOBO learn the Korean alphabet. Try it with your little tribe and it will create a bond between adult and child. The blocks and tray are handcrafted in the USA by Uncle Goose using non-toxic, lead-free child safe inks. At Allied Operations we want what’s best for our children, safe and fun learning tools. Ages 3+ Korable Block is protected by United States/South Korea and International copyright laws. Korable Block from Allied Operations on Vimeo. You may download the following supplementary PDF templates: Korean alphabet consonants Korean alphabet with consonants and vowels Numbers Days Do re mi.. Direction Food Nature Animals Body parts Objects Additional Info: Korea Times - LA Korea Times - DC Korea Times - NY Maison Marie Claire | Now 11/01/2011 Maison Marie Claire | Editor's Pick 01/01/2012 Events: Korea Society in New York, Friday, July 22 2:00-3:30 The very first Korable Block demonstration right after “Once upon a time in Korea…” find me at info desk. Korea Society in New York, Friday, July 29 2:00-3:30 Please find Korable Block during “Once upon a time in Korea…” Contact, Gallery Director, The Korea Society. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6472204-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();

You want to be inventive? Think yourself silly.

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:16 -0500

Interview with Delicious Storm is a book about an architectural concept for young creative minds. A nonsense idea can be used as part of the invention, referring to the term ideofunction. The publication shows examples of idea narratives and illustrations to explain the creative architectural process. Only 25 available. Additional Info: Amazon - Canada National Library Of Australia var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6472204-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();

Untold Story of Architecture Phase

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:02 -0500

Architects profession regarded as one of sexist job, but it requires tremendous labor intensive mouse clicking one’s hand. There are four different phases which requires different communication skills and special knowledge. However, it has not been well told to the public. Acknowledging this fact; A/O conducted a numerous questioning to the fellow architects and came up with a comic story line. The following might be the simplest way to tell unknown stories to client and even architects who has experienced all four different phases. Those are SD (Schematic Design) DD (Design Development), CD (Construction Document) and CA (Construction Administration). Schematic Design This is the stage when architect’s design intents are introduced to a client. Usually, owner of firm comes up with conceptual ideas. They do a concept sketch with client and employed architects, especially specialized graphic “cad monkeys” produce a set of drawings about how’s building is going to sit on site, and how building is going to look like. Basically, it is set of pictorial communication drawing between a client and architect. Sexy images with cool looking suit are requirement. Design Development DD is about drawings for architect’s own and coordination drawings with other consultant such as structure, lighting, acoustic, landscape, MEP (mechanical, electric and plumbing) whoever are on board. Architect should know where to ask right consultants. In DD phase, everything should be coordinated as much as possible. Also 20+ years of technically oriented architect should be on board for design team to orchestrate coordination early as possible unless otherwise later on, architects are going to point fingers each other – “damn you” Construction Document It is usually called as a construction document. However, this is a “contract documents” between client and contractors. It should show all the design intent - details of everything. At this stage, “specification” comes along with contract which tells about all the recipes of buildings and how to play the game when it is under construction; for an example, expensive material always rules. Usually, young architectural designer who just got out school tends do a drafting for “the master of detailer” for 20 hours a day for about 3 months in worst case scenario. They realized they have been fooled and begin to think about other professions. Construction Administration At this stage, people think that architects just check up the drawings and site. But, that is just a glimpse of it. This is about all about fine tuning process between contractors with architect with another drawing set which is called “shop drawings.” Realistically, this is another set of construction document. Sometime, a number of prime-contractors go up to nineteen along with more than one hundred sub- contractors. Suddenly, architects become a king of food chain. But, even within circle of architects who has not had experience, they think that phase is not cool moment. They are totally “dumb.” Moreover, architects are beginning to know the work they did in CD does not work. Believe it or not, a super control freak architecture firm tends to spend more than 40% architectural fees in this stage. There is another drawing which majority of architects are never going to see it after “shop drawings.” It is a “fabrication drawing.” var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6472204-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();

A small book series, Interview with Delicious Storm

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:38 -0500

Preface When I was a child, I was a daydreamer. I saw my world as logical, but others did not. People treated me like some kid from outer space. Now my thoughts now filtered through formal education and architectural training. I have become normal (relatively speaking). You might call tow thirds of my ideas "off the wall" and one third "somewhat sane." When I was in architecture school, I began seeing traces of my unorthodox, off-beat approach. I felt I was being limited, as methods of my studio professors left little room for self-exploration. Working with reputable architects seemed to mean compromising my personal style. I wanted to know what my style really was. I wanted to find my own direction as an architect. Recently, I had a chance to start daydreaming again. While my family was away on a three-month vacation, ideas started shooting from my mouth again. My friends and colleague were not the most receptive, calling my ideas "nonsensical," as if I was making up pointless storied. But I think these "stories" challenge conventional ways of thinking. Maybe that's why my approach to architecture seems to so strange to them. While I had entered a number of competitions with good results, I wasn't sure I wanted to take my work in the direction of "nonsense." Unfortunately, using my "stories" as a springboard to developing ideas has often led to tension even my closest friends outside of my profession. I have often wondered why I can talk about architecture with only a handful of people. But a recent conversation with a friend helped me turn the corner. She made a point about my architectural work from an archeologist's point of view, through the concept of ideofunction (viz. the use of an object for ideological purpose; for example, wearing a special garment in a religious ceremony). Her take on my architectural approach was that "nonsense can be part of a new invention." The moment was an illumination. That's why the following interview with was arrange in the form of "nonsense," to show you how my architectural persona, Delicious Storm, thinks. On the margins of the norm, these ideas may not be easy to understand. But, I believe that powerful new ideas can come from challenging commonly held beliefs about structure, composition and developing of ideas. This will be my architectural signature. Additional Info: Amazon - Canada National Library Of Australia var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6472204-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();

Competiton Entry, An International Call For Ideas; White House Redux

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:30 -0500

A short poll was carried out as to what some people here in New York think a new White House should look like: The White House Redux Poll by Storefront Television var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6472204-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();

Finalist, The 32nd Annual Ken Roberts Memorial Delineation Competition

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 21:10 -0500

"Blur" Hand drawingInk on mylar 13" X 60" (Korea Daily) How do you feel about two of your exhibited projects being selected for The 32nd Annual Ken Roberts Memorial Delineation? What kind of projects are they? (A/O) I am very pleased. Each project is conceived with careful attention and sincere dedication. So having two of the 4 exhibited pieces selected as finalists turned out to be an agreeable surprise. The competition organizers aimed and encouraged participation related to particular projects which would not be seen in ordinary circumstances. One of my proposals was a hand-drawn project sustaining its theme “blur”. To summarize, the drawing shows how the Lincoln Center’s buildings, perceived during the daytime as an individual entity, blurs in nighttime through the lightings of performing spaces which blends the interior and exterior spaces. This competition is an opportunity to show the world that an architect works on, and with a wide range of varied issues. (Korea Daily) Being of Korean nationality, having studied in the United States and currently working in NY as a young architect, there probably were many problems to be dealt with. If so, what were they? (A/O) I would think that early immigrants had a harder time than me, coming to America. There were not any particular issues to speak of, but if it were possible, I wish the Korean society would have a greater interest not only in me but also in other young foreign architects, offering them more service to aid in finding projects. (Korea Daily) What architects do you like and do you have any preferences for a particular building? (A/O) It seems difficult for me to specify which architects I like. The Staatsbibliothek (state library) in Berlin by Hans Scharoun and the Tugendhat House (private housing) by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in Czech Republic are among my favorite piece of architecture. However, there seems to be a gap between those buildings and the ones I design as an architect. I could use those precedents as references, yet I don’t wish to emulate or revive similar designs. Projects by Allied Operations (http://alliedoperations.com) always emerge from a new perspective and develop through many discussions held with its members. There are natural disagreements amid these discussions yet in many cases, these diverse opinions converge to one voice and produce good architectural projects. (Korea Daily) What are your dreams for the coming future? Also, do you have a project you are currently working on? (A/O) In 10 years time, I wish A/O would become a 24 hour functional office. Like a 400m relay in athletics, one team in NY would start working on a project and give the baton to the team in Korea where there is a 12 hour difference. For now, if an opportunity arises, I also wish to make projects that bring joyfulness to people through their innovative ideas. This does not only include good projects such as the library exhibited in Sweden a few weeks ago, but also small scaled projects such as the kitchen of a private residence, shops’ interior, etc. For instance, among A/O’s current works, there is a project related to IKEA kitchen furniture. IKEA offers efficient and inexpensive furniture that are easily installed by users. However, they do not successfully fit within the existing kitchen frame. A/O aims to find within the IKEA kitchen system a potential for change allowing alteration of concepts related to kitchen space, as well as modification in its main trend, demand issues and consumption policies. As the first test-bed, a private housing kitchen in Baltimore became the model on which A/O is currently developing its ideas. down load press release var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6472204-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();

Competition Entry, Stockholm Public Library International Architectural Competition

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 13:47 -0500

The Stockholm Public library is an iconic artifice as it uniquely represents the culture and the civic-ness of the city it resides in. The transformation of urban condition and the future of media with its subsequent effect on the concept of learning inevitably influence the way the library evolves. Extensively weaving the original aspiration of Gunnar Asplund with adjacent urban fabric and at the same time preserving the library as collective experience of browsing and socializing is the primary intent of the proposal. The area around Odenplan will go through a massive urban alteration instigated by the development of the new City Express Railway system. The Asplund expansion is invariably tied to the modification of public space around this neighborhood mainly because of the sudden growth of pedestrian traffic caused by this direct inter-city connection. Accordingly, the quantity of open space in and around the existing library complex should grow to accommodate tenfold increase of passengers. Any urban restructuring efforts would reflect the problem of amplifying open environment as well as augmenting public nature of the library. The proposal structures the premise by three dimensionally doubling the surface of plaza. The top plaza of Bazaar is extended westward to meet a planned underground shopping center, and likewise, Gyldéngatan is extended horizontally eastward to link to the Rotunda of the Asplund library. In-between these two new plaza surfaces is a main public hall of the library complex which houses an open media collection for fiction, various periodicals and news zones of different subjects, public learning zones, and a few visit-oriented offices. By connecting this vast new public space to urban components that surround its periphery, the new library complex can directly engage the increased transitory population on Odenplan. It becomes a library on the consilient trajectories of urban life. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6472204-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();

Competition Entry, Bathing Beauties National & International Competitions

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 15:00 -0500

‘Magic Is In the Air’ A beach is magic; water, waves, sand, grass, sun, and wind collectively conjure up an ethereal landscape, where everything is in motion. So - why should a beach hut alone stand still against all of this? Can it stop being a lonely, man-made artifice and become part of the magic movement of nature? We propose a tumbling beach hut, shaped as a crooked conical hat. Its form derives from the magic hat of a wizard - a wizard of the old English myths. With a single D20 stainless steel spiral pipe covered by high-performance PTFE textile (a lightweight fabric woven entirely from high-strength polytetrafluoroethylene fibers), it will constantly tumble while balancing itself against the wind. This is the moment when the hut begins to take on a magical life of its own. It becomes nature. During the off-season, the temporary nature of the fabric provides users with the flexibility to demount and leave the bare structure behind. The spiral tumbles on, shifting its identity from private to public. It becomes nature again, open and free for all. download webcast Non-habitable storage hut is U.S. Patent Pending Currently on exhibition: National Centre for Craft & Design (June 2007), The Midland Hotel, Morecambe (June 2008), the RNLI Museum Cromer (October 2008) and it is now due to show at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle (11July - 20 September 2009). Further tour dates are being planned for 2010 and we'll kep you updated on these. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6472204-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();

Antipodes, Build in the Bay Competition/Florida Insideout

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 16:17 -0500

"Highly conceptual proposals" - Florida InsideOut Magazine The Lolando Island is an outcome of failed urban development in the 1920s, but it is only a phase of a prolonged development cycle of urban reorganization. Failure and success of urban projects are two antipodal points in this cyclical spectrum. It is an inevtitable loop on which the city is constantly being situated and tested. In fact, every instance of development entails a certain level of anxiety towards failure. Failure, in the same way, is embedded with a new vision of re-building. Jury: Max Strang; Jeremy Calleros Gauger; Robert Wennett; Ricardo Dunin; Randall Robinson download 10 ideas of Antipodes var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6472204-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();

Selected, Architecture and the Mail:Architectural League of New York

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 18:25 -0500

A/O is nominated by The Architectural League New York, as one of 1000 designers and 1000 thinkers. The design illustrates an idea of integration of ECB's culturally diverse staff, reflect a European identity and serve as the Central Bank for the European Union. Jury: Hunter Ford Tura and Jeannie Kim var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6472204-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();