Saturday = Funday

Today was a good day off. I woke up and got some weinerbrød for breakfast, a little treat for Daniel and me after a hard week of work. We ate our "Danish", drank our coffee, and headed out to explore. The Black Diamond is pretty cool. It is monolithic and right on the canal. There were large chunks of ice in the water, and trying to sketch outside was miserable. Daniel seemed to manage it, but I went in and got some hot tea to warm up. I actually had the same vantage point from inside the Royal Library's Cafe. Although Denmark boasts sustainability, I think this building missed the boat more or less, as most of the facade is a dark stone mined in Zimbabwe, shipped to Italy to be cut and polished, and then arriving in Copenhagen to be hung on the building. That is quite a large carbon footprint. The building itself however is really comfortable, beautiful views and grand spaces. I plan on going back a few more times.

After the Black Diamond we walked over to the Danish Jewish Museum. This was mainly an architectural interest, but I think we learned a few things about the Jewish history of Denmark. We came away with mixed feeling towards the design. This was an extremely old building where none of the structure had been renovated and the interior architecture was your typical Libeskind craziness. Not a singular perpendicular wall with slits of ambient light everywhere. What pissed Daniel and I off was the over craftsmanship and the lack of local context. It seemed as if Libeskind designed these interior spaces before even seeing the building. There were certain edges and angles that should have been changed on site, but they weren't, so it looked ridiculous. I still think it was beautiful. Rectilinear wooden sheets with a half in gap in a running pattern on acute and obtuse angles. It was very interesting. The floor also shapes the space, constantly shifting ever so slightly. It was worth the $8.

Then we walked to a cheap sandwich shop that is delicious. It's call Eat Me. I had a pastrami and mozzarella sandwich with spinach tomato and pesto on it, and Daniel had a chicken and mozzarella sandwich with the same toppings. We decided to walk and eat. "It hit the spot," as Daniel said. We got to the train station, which was packed. I jumped onto a full train thinking Daniel would be right behind me. I turned to see him smiling at me as the train's door shut and we jolted toward Nordhavn. Not to worry, there was a train for him about 2 minutes later. That may be the best part of where we live - all of the lines go to from Svanemøllen to Nørreport - we can hop on any line. Anyway, we finally figured out laundry!!! we have clean clothes and warm socks again... almost time for bed.

Watercolor

A lot has happened in the last few days, mainly work. Lots and lots of work. Yesterday our first assignment was due. It was some basic analysis assigned as a group project. We then had a huge review where a faculty member critiques a group while another group that isn't being critiqued sits in on the review. It was all very complicated, but in the end we got 3 critiques and got to critique 3 times all within 3 hours. That is an efficiency UT has never had.

We both finished our projects about 11:30 the night before it was due and raced toward the train station. The train stops at running regularly at 12:00, only running once every two ours after. 

Friday we had our first watercolor class. I think it is spectacular. The teacher is an architect that used to watercolor as a hobby, but when she started teaching she really got into it. Nonetheless, she is a great instructor thus far. We did a few quick assignments - making even tones, mixing wet on wet, and some gradations. It is ultra relaxing, and it really makes you slow down and take a breath... here are just a few examples of what we did. More pictures can be found on the photo link.

Last night it snowed more, it's beautiful. Today though, we really want to go see the Black Diamond - The Royal Library - and maybe the Danish Jewish Museum designed by Daniel Libeskind. It looks amazing. We also need to go to the art store to get some more watercolor supplies. Have a good one!

Holy Snow!

This is why I bought some gore-tex shoes. When we woke up it was snowing. When we left for school it was snowing. During lunch it was snowing. It was snowing when we had our Western Denmark meeting. It didn't stop snowing until 7 pm. It was crazy. I didn't even get to enjoy it. Today would have been a great day to go see the King's Gardens or any sightseeing. Instead I spent it in my make shift studio - i get my real studio for assignment 2. I did manage to snap this quick shot, which is a shortcut to my studios, bypassing all of the gen. eds...

This coming Thursday, Daniel and I embark on a three day adventure into the old country of Western Denmark. It should be quite fun, but I think we have to take a bus, which is kinda crummy. I'm all about the train now. Except for today... when it didn't come: to much snow or something. We had to wait for a line to clear the opposite direction so that they could take us to Svanmøllen, our train station. We didn't get home until 9.30 pm. We had some rice with broccoli, corn, and green bean medley... not too shabby. Thanks Mrs. Heering for the plastic baggies and Airborne, greatly needed. Daniel is starting to feel better and now I am starting to feel worse. Also, now we have somewhere to put our sandwiches, which happens to be a universal word.

Getting Busy

So i have the utmost confidence in the University of Tennessee Architecture program. I am definitely holding my weight, if not most of my group's weight when it comes to conceptual, theoretical ideas. I think UT Arch. is very underestimated, but enough ranting. We are working on a group project, which is always a bit tough with people like us. Everyone thinks they are right, or they have some kind of critique. We are critical people and have been trained to be and think this way.

This weekend if supposed to be absolutely frigid. A high of 25 degrees... I'm not sure how much exploring I can do in 25 degree weather. I will try to do something indoors, maybe go see the black diamond - the Royal Library.

Daniel got a box from his parents today. He seems happy. Chocolate makes him happy... or is it boxes... note taken.

Other news:

•  I figured how to get Netflix to work thanks to the Switzerland team, and I do mean thanks.
• The Apple tablet is coming out tomorrow which is going to be stellar technology, I'm not sure why anyone would want it, but I am all for cutting edge technology.
• I found my phone - on paper - the Purple Panties Polish man took it and ran up about $300.00 worth of charges. Thanks dude, I am now boycotting the Polish sausage I've become accustomed to in the city hall square
• DTop, how do I post a comment on your blog?

I've got to run to a DIS Ultimate Frisbee meeting.

A Brief Exploration

So we walked around our neighborhood today in hopes of finding one auditorium north of our apartment. However, due to inaccurate information from the internet and the fact that our IQ combined is about 80, we ended up not finding the building. The day was not a total loss though. We did manage to find a park with a nice frozen pond filled with seagull type birds. The ice was thick enough, or so we hoped, to walk on. (Hope you appreciate that one Mr. Matchett). Although we were still frozen, it was not due to falling through the ice. Here are a few pictures of today, and yes they have Matt in them. Next time, I am sure we will have better luck and gloves with less snot on them at the end of the trip.

Standing On a Frozen Pond - Building Bridges

Today Daniel and I went out in search of the phantom building that eluded me yesterday. We came up empty. I showed him that cool gymnasium I found yesterday and the park with all the birds. Today there were no kids, but a couple let their dog off the leash and he continued to run out on the pond and raise havoc among the peaceful birds. The ice was really thick, 4 - 5 inches, so we got a picture of each of us on it. I've never gotten to do that before. I had to go meet my studio group soon after that so we headed back.

It's really amazing how fast people can adapt to a completely new environment. I find myself not hesitating when jumping off the train in a busy station, and not watching the tiny blips disappear until my station, rather it is becoming instinctual. I just know where to go. The landmarks are becoming my landmarks. I still have no idea what people are saying to me when I buy groceries, but at least I know what I'm buying. It's a funny thing, here a plastic bag costs money, so everyone stuffs their groceries into their bags, which is why there is a grocery store on almost every corner. Another thing... people follow directions here. When the light flashes red, people actually wait for it to turn green before walking, even if there are no cars coming. There are a lot of little things of that.

Today I had to meet my studio group for the first project. It's not my actual studio, but rather a mixture of all the studios for a conglomerate of designers. There is an interior design major from Pratt Institute, an Architecture major from California Polytechnic Institute State University, and my Mentee for the semester a pre-Architecture student from Brown University. Together we have to analyze and present information on a Chapel in Turku, Finland. We are actually going to see it in March - where we have to give an oral presentation to everyone there. It should be beautiful from all the pictures I have researched. I will describe it in full when I actually visit.