from Content by Rem Koolhaas

"The beuty of Berlin, its opacity, complexity, its heaviness, the richness of its ghosts. The abundance of good intentions that somehow went wrong. The pressure of shame imposed by more and more monuments. The obligation to remember, combined with the surprising amnesia (where did the wall go?). How far it is removed from everything. How refreshingly German it remains. Its grey. Its stubbornness. Its lack of doubt. The meticulous mediocrity of its new substance. How old what was modern looks. How fresh what is ancient. How good what was Communist. How Chinese what is new."

Good Architect, Architect

What defines a 'good architect'? I guess there are many answers to this question, as the answer would be a matter of opinion. But i'd like to think the 'good ones' aren't driven by money or fame. I mean, ok, we all have to earn a living, eat, support families, but money alone shouldnt be the objective. And neither should it be fame. Yes, you need to make it known that you and your craft exist, but too much of it would be distracting, don't you think so? I like associating words like passion, devotion, imagination, and play to the definition. Like an athlete that was born to play football, and then he grew up to be Zinedine Zidane or Ronaldinho.

Good architecture cannot be 'faked', just as, try as you might, will never be able to play like Zizou or Ronnie. You may be good, but never in the same way they are (and they, never like you either). It is not superficial, it has a 'soul'.

There's also a difference between a building that says "Look at me!" and one that at a minimum, appears to be stark and plain, but turns heads.

Then there are those that are just timeless, like Mies' German Pavilion in Barcelona, and others that are a product of their era, that wouldn't be the same if it were made in another time, and place. These too, are 'classics'.

Interestingly enough, truly great and magnificent architecture could even be manifested by void-more than in a built-up space. I love the idea of it.

I better get down from the clouds now, before i drift further on. I'm half way through the my review for what is to be my 'board exams' in January. My daily topics to study include pipe dimensions, construction details, and shear and moment diagrams. And i'm thinking, is this what's standing between my credibility as an architact and me? At the very least, i'd just like to be recognized as one (Being a good architect, i hope will follow in the years to come). I mean, sure, sound construction, and good utility installations will spell the difference between a great building and a leaky, stinky, God forbid, structurally unsound one but...oh well, i've got no excuse. I just have to try and get this test done and over with.

I guess what i'm trying to say is, i dream to be an architect that can give more than safe, comfortable shelter. What's more, id like to get on it already, get off the books and just 'play'. Hopefully i spend enough hours at it too, and learn enough to get a game going, put up a good fight-if not become Zizou or Ronnie in their better days.

Today

Pretty good day...

It got cold all of a sudden. Usually, by this time of year, it is already starting to get a little cool, but last Monday and Tuesday, i had to go home and change into summer clothes (Yup! Global weather changes are now starting to get really alarming). But as expected, the cold that is just lurking around the corner, and could show up any time, and it did some three days ago. So i had to do some shopping!

Bought a few things for the cold. I like to shop when it's time to shop, but nothing more. I like keeping things simple-although there are some exceptions ofcourse, like that shoe you saw on the store window on your way home, and that really nice jacket...you get the idea. So i went into the stores, got what i needed, and left.

As usual, Las Ramblas was packed. There were more mimes than usual, aside from the regular birds (chickens and exotic japanese birds), turtles, fish, hamsters, rabbits, iguanaa on sale. There were the usual flower stalls Las Ramblas are famous for. Then there's the people from all over, and walkign all over too. You'll have to kind of weave through them to get where youre going.

On my way to meeting a friend, i listened to a didgeridoo band, spanish style. Pretty cool.

Met up a a friend, went to have lunch at a truly authentic hole-in-the-wall Pinoy resto at what i call Barcelona's "little Manila". Had Sinigang na Hipon, and Adobo. Yup, in Barcelona.

Saw a pretty interesting tea salon with a board up front: "Menu 10.50e + 30 minutes siesta".

Now home, looking at a pile of books im supposed to be reading. Guess i gotta go and get started!