London Transport Aesthetic

Transport for London gave me one of these the other day. Inside was a bike light. It has no batteries but in Trevor Baylis style is wind-up. I think it was part of a campaign of caring for cyclists, because I also read they were giving out Fresnel lenses, which let truckers see cyclists more easily and there has been quite a bit of TV advertising, including a moonwalking gorilla.

Anyway, I like the box. Although on this occasion it's minimalism is probably borne out of frugality, it made me wonder about the the whole aesthetic of Transport for London, something I have long loved.

The original red, white and blue roundel and font (Johnston Sans) by Edward Johnston has remained largely unchanged since he designed it in 1918. It's arguably the logo most synonymous with London (in fact most of the main images of London are to do with the transport system: the street names, the taxi, the buses...) and has spawned all sorts of lovely sister logos as the network expanded:

(from Wikipedia)

Then there's the electrical circuit style map designed by Harry Beck in 1933 (inspired by George Dow). This is a masterful piece of work which despite jettisoning geographical truth (probably as a result) enables the most effortless understanding of its contents.

The design coherence of the London transport system was directed under the keen and meticulous eye of Frank Pick. He is rumoured to have travelled the entire network, often at night, to ensure high standards (reminds me of another design fanatic, Steve Jobs, who is reputed to have had fine Italian marble for a New York first Apple store to be sent to California first so he could check the veining).

Pick visited Europe and returned under the influence of "European modernism" which prompted the installation of then achingly modern architecture, including "sweeping curves with geometric detailing, exposed brickwork and concrete" (Design Museum). Even in new designs this exposed, progressive spirit is still part of the visual language, like the recent and industrially beautiful Westminster Tube Station.

(from stollerdos')

The Singing Ringing Tree

By architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu.

No sweat

According to this study, air conditioning may exacerbate global warming by creating a feedback loop: the hotter it gets, the more AC is used, and the hotter it gets.

Solution to this problem has been put forward in the newly established International Journal of Sustainable Design. The paper suggests a natural way of cooling buildings through nifty architecture instead of energy hungry machines.

Magnetic Curtains

What a great idea. Lots of little magnets allow you to manipulate the curtain. More here.

Capturing China

Having spent a month travelling around China last year, I was thrilled to find these photos by photographer Michael Roulier. They capture something wonderful about the mood of modern China much more acutely than I have been trying to do in conversations with people.

His lens has soaked up the character of the architecture and people; the ubiquity and mess of modern construction against the backdrop of classical architecture, the new shoots of economic prosperity crumbling the barren Maoist cityscapes, all embellished with the mossy green tinge of vegetation and humidity. Brilliant.

Roulier also has an engagingly beautiful nonlinear film on his site called Sub-memory Check. Turn off the lights and turn up the volume...

Favourite building of 2007

Photo by Feng Jun / ChinaFotoPress / Getty

Completed only a matter of days ago, this is China's National Theatre. It sits adjacent to the (in)famous Tiananmen Square and is claimed to be the largest performance hall on earth. It has been dubbed the 'pearl' or 'duck egg' because the massive half-oval is reflected in a vast square lake surrounding it. Despite detractors claiming it lacks any Chinese characteristics, this arrangement mirrors that of The Temple of Heaven - a twenty minute walk away. In both, a round part sits atop a square symbolising the ancient Chinese belief that heaven is round and earth is square.

The building by French architect Paul Andreu (also the man behind Heathrow T5) has divided Chinese opinion, but I would guess that most of its critics have only seen it on paper. When I stood by it 3 months ago, before all the lighting had been installed, it was one of those rare occasions when a building moves you. The whole structure seemingly hovers before you like a vast spaceship.

Photo by Will Lion