The Island of Dr. Moron.
I am sure that by now, many Lebanese across the world have seen this image that has been circulating in emails. At first I thought it might be a hoax, but then I got it many times, from different sources… And this mass advertising scares me.
“Beirut - "Noor International Holding", located in Beirut, declared its determination to present to the Lebanese official authorities the development of "Lebanon's Cedar Island" project facing the Lebanese coast in order to get the approvals. The company revealed also that the project is an artificial island in the sea and it is similar to Lebanon's national symbol. It is worth mentioning that this island will be the biggest artificial tree in the history” Now pardon my arrogance and maybe my pretense, but with my multiple architectural degrees, and in all modesty, I can sincerely say that I would tend to have thoughts regarding this.
So here’s my educated opinion:
What the FUCK do you think you’re doing!
"Dr. Saleh confirmed that the project, in its plans, takes into consideration the protection of the maritime environment without causing any damages to it due to the fact that some of the Island's parts will be the cedar's branches floating above the sea surface."What? Does anybody buy that?
So you’re telling us, that you are going to claim 3.5 M.sq.m of marine land, and not disturb aquatic life? Or the planet? I don’t care how many environmentalists you’re going to hire, but I don’t buy into that… not one bit.
Furthermore, and to add to the insult, Dr. Saleh claims that he “invented” the idea, while flying above Lebanon on the Middle East Airlines (of course). He thought “why don’t we eternalize the emblem, by having a giant Cedar island float at sea…
Did any of you not think that this is a dumb imitation of the ultimate Dubai stupidity that is called the Palm Island, when you saw the image?
…
Thank you!I am sorry, but you did not invent shit! A person that is capable of such projects can not possibly have a creative mind…Why… Why would anybody dotted with the least bit of logic, and with the thinnest grain of intelligence, think that Lebanon would need this?
What is the point?There is no argument whatsoever that I would accept to justify this endeavor, so they should just save their breath, and withdraw this delusional masterplan, as I am confident that it will not pass cabinet.
I went on their site (which I am not even going to bother giving you), and much to my surprise I actually found in their guestbook, insane people that supported this delusional project. Those who did not approve were a bit more numerous, and that is a big kudos to the Lebanese.
The fine Doctor also claims that his mega-project will grant 50.000 Lebanese new jobs. Those workers will only be the tentacles of your glory, your construction workers, and then they are gone; they may later work as servants for the elite society you are creating on your gated island, built on PUBLIC LAND.
Is it not enough that most of Lebanon’s shore is private and exploited, now you’re extending to the sea.
“Moreover, the company mentioned that it will be the main developer of the project and that it has started its calls with many Lebanese investors residing in Lebanon and abroad, with Arabs and other investment parties.” You have to give it to him though; the man is a clever businessman. He is creating work for himself. He is the Client and the Architect at the same time, and all we have to do is bite. He created the idea, and then became the client. He won his own competition, and commissioned the job to himself, so he became the Architect. What he is doing now, is trying to sell the idea, so that he can steal public domain, and sprawl his gated community. He can finally act as the “main” developer, and will reap the profit of his own lie.
I am almost positive though that the Lebanese government will not go through with him on the project. Despite what I think of our politicians, I suspect that most of the elected officials will quickly dismiss this environmental and social disturbance.
Otherwise God help us.
Dr. Saleh, if you really care for the cedars and their symbolism, and if you really want to do something for Lebanon (and not just the filthy rich few) why don’t you spend a fraction of that money (7.4 billion) to plant actual Cedar trees up Mount Lebanon; that’s Cedrus libani for you.
I’ll even write to the government and push them to name a whole forest after you…Labels: architecture, Lebanon, ramblings, stupid
Landscape Architecure.
I got news last week. I was so
waiting for this to happen.
After Architecture, and Urban Design, I decided to go for my third degree, and try to widen my spectrum of design disciplines, in this architectural world.
I am now a
Landscape Architect.
To me, this step is not only an academic and professional accreditation, but also a personal reward of accomplishment, for past years’, sometimes painful, sacrifices.
And I know that this will sound tacky, but I truly couldn’t have done it without your support and your actual physical help during the final weeks.
So thank you love.
□ □ □ □
Labels: architecture, everyday life, ramblings
Education [the unfinished degrees].
I presented last week... wish me luck!
Labels: 3_squares, a matter of scale, architecture, sketches
Mobius House [Villa NM] burnt down.
"Times Herald-Record
February 07, 2008
BETHEL - Fire investigators yesterday sifted through the remains of a modern mansion off Burr Road that was recently featured in The New York Times and burned to the ground Tuesday night.The cause of the fire is still unknown, according to George Slater, the Kenoza Lake assistant fire chief.
In October, the Times ran an architectural feature about the building, which was a second home owned by Leo Tsimmer.
Designed by Dutch architects, the house had tinted glass for many of its outside walls and LED-lit polycarbonate panels in the kitchen.
It was perched atop a Bethel hill with a commanding view of the surrounding area.
Tsimmer was in New York City at the time of the fire; a passer-by called in to report the blaze.
Crews from Kenoza Lake, Jeffersonville, Lake Huntington and White Lake battled the fire for three hours."
----
I used to get angry when some lives were given more value than others. It drives me nuts when a big shot gets blown up, and her/his bodyguards are left to rare mention.
Today we commemorate the death of this-big-dude! grieve with us oh-you-brainwashed-masses.
Who do you think the families of their fallen companions will be remembering on that same day? What about the families of those innocents who just happened to be there? For them D-days don't mean shit no more. Fate taught them a lesson, and they now know, that "Days" are overrated, and for the chosen ones only.
It is moments we should seek.
moments and memories.
remember your dead...
This moment of delirium today, was triggered by the death of an architectural monument.
Following up on the previous thought, one also should not value a building over the other. In the end, all buildings are homes. And one should never underestimate the pain, when your home is no more...
But this one was a masterpiece.
On Feb 6, 2008 remember The Mobius House, by Architect Ben Van Berkel - UN Studio.
Architecture is not dead.
more links:
a daily dose of architecture (Here)
noticias architectura (Here)
the herald record (Here)
architectural record (Here)
the new york times slide show (Here)
Labels: architecture, everyday life
Hibernating.
Dec. 07 / Mtl, Qc / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi
[before] pictures of the same view.
----
Think of how we studied past civilizations. We dug through their ruins.
We dug through their ruins, and we figured them out. From their traces, and from their marks, we were able to reconstruct and then deconstruct their cities, their architecture, their philosophies, and infiltrated into the deepest secrets of their societies.
We studied their complexities.
Their memory is our history.
Think of the traces we are leaving.
What will be our imprints? How will our traces be read? Every detail and all important manifestations of our society, and the phenomenon of modern Homo Urbanis, are digitally archived; and online.
Our memory was commodified, and invested in a dot.com long time ago.
The memory we will be leaving will be a digital memory card.
These will be our digital ruins.
Our being is metamorphosing into Digital Ruins!
We're coded, saved and archived on some sort of an advanced hard drive, for the scrutiny of higher beings of the future.
In the scheme of life, all in all we're just another USB stick in the wall.
----
A snowstorm has been hitting Montréal for the past three days. It just started to clear.
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernation conserves energy, especially during winter. Hibernation may last several days or weeks depending on species, ambient temperature, and time of year. The typical winter season for a hibernator is characterized by periods of hibernation interrupted by sporadic euthermic arousals wherein body temperature is restored to typical values. Hibernation allows animals to conserve energy during the winter when food is short. During hibernation, animals drastically lower their metabolism so as to tap energy reserves stored as body fat at a slower rate. [wiki]
Labels: architecture, delirium, digital technology, ramblings, urban design
Architecture of Dreams.
Museum of Modern Art / Feb.05 / New York City, NY / Nikon Coolpix 5700
Architects can be so arrogant. Including my so-called self. I mean you can say all you want about Disney and its Architecture. - Oh this is so Disney Land you say whenever you want to critique, and reference to an eclectic object of Design bordering the cliché – or beyond. Who are you?Give the guy a break; you practically grew up watching what he did and created for you. All he cared about was to build an empire for you; a palette of dreams and hopes for you to dip your brush of being in. I am not asking you to accept his architectural taste, and to promote it; far from that. All I’m saying is that you could shut up about it already. Come your children, what do you think they are going to watch? You didn’t even bring yourself to go see “my architect”. And this is a movie about Louis Kahn, one the Great Ones you highly respect. What do you think they are going to like? Do you think they’re going to ask you to take them to the MoMA, or to Disneyland?Shut up already!Get your ass off the couch and do something useful for humanity. Let your work be criticized.Labels: architecture, delirium, disney, ramblings
“Beirut - "Noor International Holding", located in Beirut, declared its determination to present to the Lebanese official authorities the development of "Lebanon's Cedar Island" project facing the Lebanese coast in order to get the approvals. The company revealed also that the project is an artificial island in the sea and it is similar to Lebanon's national symbol. It is worth mentioning that this island will be the biggest artificial tree in the history” 
