Saturday, September 25, 2010

Friday, September 24, 2010

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Open House Weekend - Linear House

The last object visited today was not an office but a private house belonging to a family. Usually when you think of Haringey the best you can remember is something like this...

Typical Highgate street

...so we were really surprised to discover such a gem completely invisible from the street:

Open House weekend - Linear House
* clickable

It is hard to spot even from the neighbouring tower block because the building is cut into the natural slope and sports a green and grassy roof. The fenced territory around holds also additional structures like garage and garden shack:

Open House weekend - Linear House
* clickable

Open House weekend - Linear House

Of course, green energy panels (I am not sure about their real effectiveness but was almost sure to find them there):

Open House weekend - Linear House

The area was originally a historic park but no trees were harmed during the development:

Open House weekend - Linear House

Open House weekend - Linear House

Visitors were also let inside:

Open House weekend - Linear House

I can add that this object gave me a strange feeling. I mean, when visiting an office or a public service building you don't get that disturbing suspicion that you will probably never in your life find yourself in a place like this.

Open House Weekend - Slice of Reality

This was definitely the best experience for us of the whole Open House event:

Open House weekend - Slice of Reality

Open House weekend - Slice of Reality

A former ocean going sand dredger once sliced loosing 85% of its length is now standing near the famous O2 arena letting the river Thames literally flow through it:

Open House weekend - Slice of Reality

Open House weekend - Slice of Reality

The view featuring the Canary Wharf skyscrapers on the opposite bank is fantastic:

Open House weekend - Slice of Reality
* clickable

Open House weekend - Slice of Reality

The bridge consists of three floors inside providing several separate rooms with enough space even with visitors wandering around. Interiors are modest but very exiting for a person as unfamiliar with the sea as I am:

Open House weekend - Slice of Reality
* clickable

Open House weekend - Slice of Reality

"We make parties here often during summer", I was told. I believe, I really do.

Open House weekend - Slice of Reality

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Open House Weekend - Village Underground

Having had read about this place I couldn't resist visiting it today.

Only two carriages are visible from the street but those are actually "the top floor" - there are two more of them lower on the roof...

Open House Weekend - Village Underground

...but they can only be observed from outside being under refurbishment:

Open House Weekend - Village Underground

Besides the coaches there is enough space on the roof to accommodate a bike rack, a barbecue and several benches making a nice recreational area with a view combining design and decay so typical for Shoreditch. Containers serving as a basis for top carriages are also habitable.

Open House Weekend - Village Underground

On the top floor:

Open House Weekend - Village Underground

I asked if the driver's place is usually occupied by boss - alas, nothing is perfect. Still, these two seats are used for job interviews:

Open House Weekend - Village Underground

I don't actually know if this is really a good place to work in (I'm seriously concerned about the hot weather - with no AC or opening windows the iron carriage would quickly turn into an oven) - but still the idea is definitely worth a visit.

Open House Weekend - Village Underground

As the Open House Weekend continues, visiting another location is on our plan for tomorrow.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Ping post

Me at RAF Museum

My parents and brother are in London now, and I'm enjoying a week off. Not bad at all.

Going to visit life drawing class this Thursday as I have some time to spare again this time.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Tube strike and social media

When emerged to surface in a couple of kilometres from the destination today I thought of taking a bus from the station first but frightened by the length of the queue I only took a photo of the place and decided to walk instead.

Later I was contacted by CNN iReport producer in connection with those photos taken while walking to office - she had found my pics on Flickr and then called my mobile.

As a result, here is the post: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-489207

Speaking of which, it made think of big brands adopting social content. The first thought of every lucky amateur is to agree, and only few can resist the anticipation - myself I certainly couldn't this time. On the first glance it is a win-win situation for either side, but on the other hand people deliver the product to corporations while nothing in the internet really makes them to - unlike the real world, internet provides an opportunity to reach every author if you really want that without a middleman involved. Still, people easily sacrifice their independence for things that hardly really matter letting others speak on their behalf.

Please don't misunderstand me - I don't mean that "people are robbed" or something of that kind. Pics and stories like these are really cheap (if worth anything at all) even if made by a professional. What I mean is that it is not necessary to share using the corporal services while we don't really need them to communicate, even after the real net anarchy has surely ended.