06.08.10
GROWING...
Some may consider these times to be tough, and I am willing to agree. However it does perhaps suit a small office in its infancy. In times of relentless optimism big projects are given to young architects. However architectural talent is one thing, another is experience.
Having a humble outset may be very valuable. When dealing with a few materials and a few square meters one has time to study the properties thoroughly. Some may say that the architectural focus in large projects is different, that attention is to be given to the concept. At the same time we see the biggest blunders in the failed mega structures. If we could build our experience step by step, progressing to more complex projects each time I think we may not fear to be in over our heads. I have started with very small projects in a wish to understand all their properties in their minute details. From here on a firm architecture may develop.
26.07.10
ON AESTHETICS AND BEAUTY
When we are so preoccupied with making architecture that relates to nature and which may seem to be a complete submission to the surroundings and function, I have often met the question of the purpose of aesthetics. Because surely we cannot deny that we seek aesthetics. Or at least we do not wish to make ugly architecture. Some may consider this concern for aesthetics as a betrayal to the stated goal of making architecture that gives itself to its surroundings. But we must realize that in order for our architecture to flourish it has to be attractive. For this reason I have been considering aesthetics and beauty, but I am arriving at the confounding conclusion that, to me, aesthetics is but an accessory quality, and not something to pursue in itself. There is quality above that of beauty, and that is charm. In order for people to love their building it needs to have a charm. How can I claim that charm is greater than beauty? Consider which is more desirable, a beautiful object without charm or a charming object without beauty?
Beauty speaks to the eyes while charm speaks to ... well, something undefinable. Beauty may easily be defined in terms of divine proportions, science has mapped out that which we humans consider to be beautiful. Charm is a complex quality which has not been defined and it may never be. You can study beauty but you may never learn how to foster charm. Indeed it seems that the purest charm is the unintended charm, while the intended or forced charm is repulsive. As such charm may only rely on what we call talent and is not something which should be pursued.
I am not denouncing beauty, it is an accessory quality, but a very pleasant one. Charm however is a quality of many layers and an indicator of a great work and I can only hope that my works may possess this elusive characteristic.
23.12.09
SAMBUICHI IN ARKITEKTEN
I have just written the feature story for the January edition of the -national- danish architecture magazine, Arkitekten. I write about the Inujima Art Project by my mentor and associate, Hiroshi Sambuichi. The project has always proven very difficult to put into words, I can explain how it works, but it is impossible to describe how it feels. This is perhaps a big difference between Sambuichi and many other current architects, that how ever interesting his projects look, they are 10x more interesting when you experience them. Such things are inexplainable, and so I have presented the workings of the project, how it uses natural phenomenon to function. I finished some drawings that came out quite elaborate, and perhaps a bit overdone. I like them as they are though.
Please do contact me if you would like to know more about Hiroshi Sambuichi or the Inujima Art Project.
08.10.09
FOR THE GARDENS
A team of Frans Drewniak of DRZ, Morten Busk Pedersen of MBP, my office and others have been awarded for our proposal for a New Museum of Natural History, which was announced recently. DRZ and MBP are planning to commence further collaborations from this base and I may join their efforts as much as time allows me.
I will be looking forward to see what the outcome of our efforts will be. Surely the location of the museum on the grounds of the Copenhagen Botanical Gardens is very dear to me. I will tell you a little secret, the botanical gardens are my place of choice when I seek inspiration. I dont walk around looking at plant structures to copy, actually I dont know what I am absorbing other than the ambience of green and all the colors of the world, leaves waving in the wind, sunshine through the trees, a multitude of plants from exotic places. When I come back to my office I am full of ideas.
For this reason I do hope that whoever will take care of the new museum will devote themselves. I dont know what I would do without that dear garden.
16.09.09
PRESENTING KOMOREBI
I will give a lecture at the Peoples University in Fiolstraede, Copenhagen in late November about japanese architecture and its relation to nature. I will provide more details shortly.
14.09.09
HELPING GOOD PEOPLE
I have spent some time lately helping various smaller offices. For the noted and very friendly Christoffer Harlang I helped develop a new museum in and on an old brewery and other exhibition halls in the country side. And I have also been helping Mathilde Petri to present her projects to a wider audience. I have been continuing my work with Frans Drewniak and Morten Busk Petersen joined our team. I intend to present the projects I have done lately in various constellation on this page. Please stay tuned.
02.09.09
ARCHITECTURAL TOOLS
A very talented and handsome acquiantance of mine made some tools for working with SketchUp over at rubits.com. There are some tools for working with massing models and some others for manipulating textures. They are not all free, but I know he would really appreciate if someone would confirm their interest, not least because these tools will save the user much time in working on trivial tasks. As he puts it, they do the tasks of architectural design that we might as well assign to a machine.
Visit the site at rubits.com and tell him I sent you, he should remember who I am.
22.08.09
LONG TIME, NO TIME
It has been some time since my last update, and for god reason. I have been busy helping good friends, but I am now back on my own projects again. Please stay tuned as I will give some detailed updates in the following week.
09.04.09
ARKITEKTUR MAGASINET PT.2
A little bit more of my interview with Junya Ishigami has been published in the second edition of Arkitektur Magasinet. This time it is about his tables. I didnt actually get to my point with my questions, but nevertheless we get a decent insight into mr. Ishigamis interest.
03.04.09
GIVING PROPER RECOGNITION
Some good friends have been kind to link to me. i would like to introduce you to them too, as I have great respect and interest in their work.
Manabu Aritsuka is a rising star in the north... he established his office in Aomori last year and already has a few projects going there and in my hometown Hiroshima. You should visit his site, www.aritsuka.com.
Bunzo Ogawa is a young architect based in Hiroshima, who is gaining interest, and in my opinion, has the ta;ent to become the next big architect in the city. He has established Future Office, you can see his works at www.futurestudio.jp.
SUIKO is a graffiti artist also from Hiroshima, perhaps my favorite Japanese graffiti artist, he has a soft but powerful style in doing works that are sometimes 3d, but which always plays extensively with the shapes of Japanese characters, in creating new images. I highly recommend visiting www.suiko1.com.
Also SHIBA is doing amazing work these days, he has a mixed background in art, but works within the realm of graffiti. I enjoy his new pieces of kakigori type images a lot, go look at www.shibaart.com.
Then also there is an old friend, NISHI. His works may be quite scary, but they are incredibly beautiful in their take on traditional calligraphy. He only has this myspace.com/nishi89 page, but it will give you a good impression of his talent.
Then another good friend of mine Junko Kunihiro who I believe has a great future in store, does a good blog about random stuff at superfool.exblog.jp.
23.03.09
SUSTAINABLE SOFTWARE
I am currently working on some software for architectural 3d modelling. It has prompted me to consider whether the term - sustainable software - exists. To me it seems extremely obvious that programmers have a lot to do in promoting a sustainable environment.
Personal computers are perpetually increasing in speed, yet our software is getting bigger and bigger. The increase in the performance of our chips is spent on our software finding more complex ways of solving problems. As a result the common user will not benefit from the hardwares technological progresses. In stead of making software bigger and slower why dont we try to make it smaller and faster? Our computers would spend much less energy in getting our problems solved if they were more efficient. Consider the output of ancient architects compared to todays. Would you say that architecture has improved with the help of computers. Isnt it rather that we have been enabled to give more complex solutions. Solutions that may an several aspects be more unsustainable?
In making this software (which I intend to make available here) and in working on websites it has occured to me that with all the energy used on keeping our computers running, even software developers have a big responsibility in making sustainable software. In fact the impact of doing so may be even more profound than architects slapping some solar panels on buildings.
19.03.09
DARK WINTER
As the spring is arriving I realize that the past winter had seemed extraordinarily dark. Perhaps it was due to the situation we are facing, or perhaps it is because I am getting sensitive to these changes in light. In any case I would like for architecture to give us light in those terrible months. Sometimes I ponder what possessed the original settlers of Denmark, surely they must have arrived in the spring, only to get terribly disappointed after they had settled and experienced the 3rd consecutive month of cold and darkness... Of course I am kidding, Denmark is wonderful most of the time, but I really think architecture has more potential to get the best out of the Danish winter as well as the summer. That is a theme I will strive to expand upon.
20.02.09
ON THE COVER
During my recent time in Japan I was lucky to get the opportunity to have a talk with Junya Ishigami. This talk has now been published in the danish architecture magazine Arkitektur Magasinet. Now, actually this is the first issue of a new magazine, and so I was very surprised to see my story on the cover of this rather historic event in danish architectural press history.
Translating the talk has been quite tough as we had about a full 2 hours together in Japanese. Since then, my wife (Megumi Hashimoto) has helped me a great deal, so we could get the translation to danish ready on time.
Personally I think that the new magazine is a great success. It will be a magazine that I will really look forward to receiving every month.
22.01.09
LATEST WORK
Frans Drewniak (DRZ) and I have just submitted a proposal for a church in Norway. The location is amazing, in a little forest at the foot of a mountain, close to the sea.
You can preview the project here: Hatlehol Church (w/ Frans Drewniak, DRZ).
20.01.09
UPDATE
The past weeks has been very fruitful. Inspirations, meetings, work. I have met some great people and I have received support for my efforts. I wish to announce some interesting projects that I have been blessed with recently, though I may wait for a bit due to privacy concerns. They are however very exciting.
Frans Drewniak and I have also submitted a proposal for a church competition in Norway which I will also announce here soon. Please stay tuned.
10.12.08
STAGE
Since announcing atelier alee, I have been blessed with some interesting projects, and so you will find me busy this month preparing among other things the scenography for a dance artist based in Japan, a stage concept that I think has not been tried before, in any case it can make for a very innovative show, I am sure. In essence, there is nothing on stage but the performer and abstractions of imagination. I will show you when it is all prepared.
Also, for anyone interested, I will be back in Hiroshima for the New Years and until January 18th. I will probably not be available online at this time.
01.12.08
ATELIER ALEE
This then, is the official announcement that atelier alee is now open! I am going solo to pursue goals and dreams in realizing potentials in architecture of our century. Today, with both the environmental and the economical crisis, I feel very strongly that we have never had a better opportunity to revolutionize architecture. I consider these crises great indicators that a big change is coming; when problems are earth shattering, revolutionary solutions are needed.
I will be doing works in various fields in both Denmark and Japan. I will keep writing here and updating with more projects, as I obviously have more time now to focus on the things I find important. I hope you will stay tuned and enjoy the ride.
03.11.08
BUILDING FOR NATURE, BUILDING FOR PEOPLE
It has been some time since we finished our workshop, and it seemed a big success. The students were given very little information on what to do, thus inciting them to consider deeply the few words that were spoken. And from this came 14 very interesting and different projects. You can see pictures of the workshop at Frans Drewniaks blog (fransdrewniak.wordpress.com).
Personally, it took some time for it all to sink in, we had many talks, some had a very great and profound impact on me. When working with Sambuichi I have a true feeling of really doing something good for mankind on a very fundamental level. I have not yet found a way to express this insight, I will be working on it from now on. You know when something feels so right, that you cant stop yourself from realizing it. It may be dangerous but it may also lead to a revolution. I have stumbled upon this discovery, or that is, Sambuichi has tripped me in my path, and I am now pursuing this discovery because I cant help but feel like there is something right about it on multiple levels, including levels that I do not yet fully understand. This may seem ridiculously grand, but I really do think so. Yes, I am of sound mind, no I am not about to embark on paper dome houses.
12.09.08 HIROSHI SAMBUICHI WORKSHOP
My old department at the academy (department 10 at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts) and I are arranging a workshop for all the students, inviting Hiroshi Sambuichi to present an assignment on experimental sustainable solutions in architecture. The workshop will run from october 10th to october 15th. I will assist Sambuichi in helping the students. If you have any interest in sustainable architecture, japanese architecture or just want to experience high level architectural creativity, please stop by and see us!
04.10.08
ARCHITECTURE IN THE NATURE / THE NATURE IN ARCHITECTURE
I think I am getting closer in defining what my intentions in architecture are. For a long time I have been considering the relation between architecture and nature. Sambuichi defines his work sometimes as a part of nature, that you will not notice what sets nature and architecture apart, -where does the architecture begin- so to speak. It is an exciting perspective I think. Things need not be complicated. And it is not about making it look like nature. We are so preoccupied with making architecture look like something. Like this or that style or image. Why is this? How about just building good buildings that we can enjoy, without previous knowledge? The real geniuses of architecture didnt make architecture to look like something. It came from a natural intention. It was in a way, that nature defined that architecture. This is what I mean when I say nature in architecture. Find your inspirations but make sure that your nature is the one holding the pen. Then you will turn out the nature in the architecture in the nature.
18.09.08
HALF BUILT OR ...
It occurs to me that I sometimes make trivial observations, but I think reiterating them may be for the good as it seems that many forget these basics, so please indulge me.
See, an approach that I encounter often among architects is the approach of - problem solving -. Meaning, overcoming the imperfections of circumstances, the environment, giving quality to unblessed places. Now, please dont oppose the observation, I am sure that you know that this kind of approach is widespread. Evidently, this, to me, is a terrible approach.
Architecture is not about problem solving, it is about fulfilling potentials. Yes, it is an old cliche, glass half full or half empty. But if you enter your site looking for problems to solve, chances are that you will fail in making anything better. If anything, building huge masses of landscape requires extreme humility, the arrogance of judging based on aesthetic satisfaction is a crime..
In fact it is not just an outlook on half full half empty. Imperfections are always potentials to do something unique. Soulful expression is never perfect. Perfection is a term of the mind. A circle is only perfect in the mind, once drawn or built it reveals the imperfections of the creator. If the creator has acknowledged his imperfections honestly, chances are that the circle will turn out beautiful and unique.
If you see an architectural - problem -, get to know it, embrace it, and I think you will soon see its beauty. You may even see it as the strength of your project.
19.09.08
THE PLAN AS A CANVAS?
Is architecture but the artistry of building? The current generation and some generations before seem to hold this perception. It prompts me to question whether I, calling myself an architect, have misunderstood completely what architecture is about. In fact I find myself often questioning this. Are we really supposed to first and foremost see our works as works of art?
As an individual that works with architecture as well as typical artistic expressions in graphics and music, I like to keep the two apart. The purpose of architecture is not to make art you can live in, is it? Why does the architect see his finest achievement in the act of expressing something individual? All I, as the user, would care about is if the building makes me feel comfortable. Why would I care about the composition of the plan?
I can only urge architects to work more with the new tools at hand, that allow us to draw architecture in true 3D, to forget about whether the plan looks aesthetically pleasing. We are architects, building spaces to contain lives, and though we can be artistic architects, that would apply solely to artistry in composition of spatial situations. Or else I have truly misunderstood what architecture is about.
08.09.08
REGULAR RANDOM
Random seems to be the buzz word these days. I dont like that term, random. Nothing is random. As an artist you can intend for things to be random, but it will still remain a choice to do so, and so it becomes controlled random. You may find, when letting a machine do the random things for you, that they will turn out unsatisfactory. That is because they become random random. I operate with what you could call regular random or random regular. The purpose of this is not to make things random for the sake of random but to give life to the details the way I see nature do. Nature does not do things random, though it may seem so. We cannot decipher all the precursors for the details of nature, but if we were to mimick them, we would have to go with our own nature, our instinct, our guts.
Most architects rely on systems, which is common sense, as it is both cost effective and structural logic. However, in my mind, order needs chaos, just as chaos needs order for the structure to come alive. A grid is tedious if it has no challenge, and a mess is incomprehensible if it has no order.
The challenge in playing with chaos is to trust your guts. Approaching the chaos with the same careful attention you approach order. Your guts will tell you what is right. It may not make sense, but that doesnt matter, that makes it the more interesting.
24.08.08
FREDSTEMPEL IN ARKITEKTUR DK
I am very excited to tell you that my graduation project is featured with no less than 6 pages in the newest issue #5 of the danish magazine arkitektur DK. The article highlights my efforts in illustrating the spatial experience, with 7 pictures selected from the original 30. If you wish to see more of the project, it is presented here: Fredstemepel i Hiroshima / Peace temple in Hiroshima.
I wish to thank the editors of the magazine for featuring me and doing it so prominently. I was very surprised to see it on the frontpage even, and seeing arkitekt: Alex Lee it still is somewhat unreal to me.
If you have any questions or otherwise wish to contact me, please do so at anytime at the addresses in the contact section.
And if you are new to this website, please make sure to come back again as I update with new and old projects and thoughts all the time.
25.08.08
BIG DESIGN
I dont know whether I am stating something obvious, but I run into the perception constantly, that architecture is just big design, and this is one of the few things that really bothers me. Architecture is not design and an architect is not a designer. Not to belittle designers, what they do, making our daily life more convenient and pleasant. But architecture is another situation, you emerse yourself in architecture, houses engulf you, you are not emersed by a tea pot unless you are very very small. You live in architecture, its function is not to look cool or signal who you are, it is to provide a frame for your life, day and night.
10.08.08
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT?!
A boss of mine phrased an opinion that struck me as somewhat provocative yet true to some extent. He said something along the lines of this: all good architecture is very easy to explain. If you can not explain it in one sentence, it probably is not good architecture. It is a very bold statement, and one I am not unfamiliar with, as my old mentor Boje Lundgaard said something similar. He said (very literally): A plan has to be so clear that you can pee it in the snow!
This perception of architecture does in some ways collide with my own understanding. Sambuichi made a great impression on me when we were reviewing pictures of the newly-built Inujima Art Project. He simply said: What in the world is that?! He considers that a very good impression. I am inclined to agree.
Contrary to others I think that the best architecture is that which cannot be explained. Because this is the feeling that strikes me whenever I experience great space. Try explaining the empty spaces of James Turrell for example. Geometrically they are very simple, but the atmosphere is only understood when you are there yourself. The exact same thing can be said of Sambuichis Inujima project. There are many pages of text and diagrams to explain how it works, and there are many pictures of it too. But I did not fully understand it until I was there. And it was amazing. And completely unexplainable. I think it is this mystery that truly gives life to architecture.
Maybe the overall concept of the architecture should be easy to understand, but I really think that the qualities of space, the actual building should remain mysterious and unexplainable. So of architectural space I would say this: If you can explain it in one sentence, it is probably not good architecture.
04.08.08
CHANGING STANCES
Recently I have been working on a project that has changed my views on some architecture that I did not appreciate much. This happens to me from time to time. What I didnt like yesterday I like today.
My views on transparent architecture, white architecture or illusory architecture have been quite stern, though now I am beginning to see the purpose of such an approach when dealing with projects on a very large scale. This architecture can give some magic to spaces that are so big that making them anything but light and transparent would seem abusive. So Alex is making floating architecture.
I think it is important to have your head flexible, going with what your stomach tells you is right and not keep to an ideal without changing perspective. Doing so will keep you in motion.
31.07.08
ALEXHLEE.NET
Making this site has taken me a lot of time. Not so much the actual production, but finding the courage to make the decisions that created the site. Afterall, this is a representation of me, and you always want to make the best impression.
The site is ever-changing, the details shift through the course of the day and through the course of the year. This is to reflect my perception of architecture as a shelter from the extremes of the physical world. The white frame that encircles this website is largely static, but I do let in some variations to bring more life to the content.
All parts are dynamic and change often. Some things will be here for a long time and some may disappear again soon. I change focus and opinion as I learn, and I consider myself a student for life.
25.07.08
MUSICALLY GRAPHIC ARCHITECTURE
I am aware that my working in different fields can seem indecisive in how I want to express myself. I work with architecture, music and graphics.
I think that artists will not develop anything new if they do not think outside their field. I think that it is important to work in different mediums to make new exciting connections. That is why I work with these different forms of expression. One inspires the other. As part of my working process I shift media and express the same thought. This gives me new perspectives that I can use. It is not a mere translation from one tool to another, but a steady contemplation on a basic idea in different forms and the process helps me keeping this idea ever-present.
As such, you could say that my work can be loosely described as musical architecture / architectural graphics / graphic music / musical graphics / graphic architecture / architectural music.
Or perhaps even graphically musical architecture / architecturally graphic music / musically architectural graphics / graphically architectural music / musically graphic architecture / architecturally musical graphics.
Please try considering all of these terms. Wouldnt you agree that they contain exciting images of what can be created? This is how I work.
24.07.08
WEBSITE LAUNCH
It is open! I have put parts of my portfolio online and will keep updating with new and old projects daily for quite some time, so please come back and have a look again. I will also present some of the music I make. Furthermore, as everything is not done yet, you should not be surprised to see some minor changes. Already there are some obscure features of this website, please try it again at another time of day and you may see. I will give a description of my thoughts in making this site soon.
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