DESIGN | Architecture Week Lectures




Once a year the Architecture week takes place in Madrid and many events are organized  in the city. AAGRAFA team present the lectures that took place in our Madrid Architecture School this week recorded and collected in five DVD discs. Available now in the ETSAM library.

SEMANA DE LA ARQUITECTURA - OCTUBRE 2005

DISC 1>>Ginés Garrido "El Lissitsky"
October 4, 2005 / 45 min / Deposit number [V-594]

DISC 2>>Álvaro Soto
October 5, 2005 / 96 min / Deposit number [V-595]

DISC 3>>Fernando Casqueiro "La Arquitectura de la Nada"
October 5, 2005 / 115 min / Deposit number [V-596]

DISC 4>>Antonio Juárez "Fragmentos del Espejo Contemporáneo"
October 6, 2005 / 70 min / Deposit number [V-597]

DISC 5>>Darío Gazapo
October 7, 2005 / 18 min / Deposit number [V-598]


LAB | Antiumbrela



Intervention in a stepwell in India. Developed in a design class in Madrid Architecture School in 2005 with professors​ Aranguren + Gallegos.
This is a project I can not talk about. It's a secret project under development. Just take a look to this image.  I hope to be able to write about it in the near future. I can only say that I obtained a good grade with just this A4 drawing in an Architecture School class. Well, I can also say, I guess, that: "Efficiency is priority number one people, because waste is a thief".  -Ioannes

Visit the website: https://aaandnn.com/lab/antiumbrela/

Hauru No Ugoku Shiro (ハウルの動く城) DVD



Hayao Miyazaki's Hauru no Ugoku Shiro (ハウルの動く城) also know as Howl's Moving Castle was released in DVD as a 4 disc collectors edition in Japan. The first printing includes a frame of the movie frozen in resin created by Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun.

Here the video that explains how the collectible was created:



LAB | Morgan I & II prototypes




Mor Gan I & II prototypes
These prototypes were designed for a design class in the Architecture school of Madrid during the year 2005 with professors​ Aranguren + Gallegos. The main idea was to create a membrane that would cover the user, that was foldable and transportable and that could be built using simple materials and folding operations. We wanted to avoid utopic ideas, so we worked on the real-scale model from the very beginning.

Material
We were looking for a large-scale recyclable material and we realized that any industry generates waste at a much higher speed than any domestic environment. We chose the PVC canvas used in advertisement banners, discarded in the printing process or reused once it has fulfilled its purpose. PVC is ductile and tenacious; it presents dimensional stability and has very good resistance to environment and flames.

Building process
We proceeded with an old origami technique. The folds were reinforced with staples and we tried to use scissors as little as possible.

Mor Gan I
Starting with a 2.7×2.7 meters rectangular canvas and based on a series of origami folds, a semicubic element of 0.6×0.6×0.6 m was generated. Once folded it fitted​ into a regular Ikea plastic bag.

Mor Gan II
From a square canvas of 3.7×3.7 meters a semicubic space of 0.9x 0.9×0.9 m was generated. The structure was reinforced with two fiberglass rods, 3 mm in diameter and 185 cm long used in the construction of kites. Once folded it could​​ be carried in a classic blue Ikea bag.

Visit the website: https://aaandnn.com/lab/less-is-mor-gan/
The theme of this years projects class was "Less is More". Each student had choose a previously used material and give it a second use. The results were awesome, everyone created great things.  I will post some photos of the presentation one of this days. My idea was to reuse  those big commercials canvases that hang on the buildings fold it as a cube so that children could use it as a tent.  
This following video is the making of the second Morgan. The canvas was bigger that the room so I had some complications. This is a time lapse resume of  one hour fighting with the PVC. I used a traditional stapler commonly used to staple paper and an classic origami folding system so that I didn't have to cut material. From a 2 dimnsional square to a habitable 3 dimensional cube. Voila! -Ioannes


DESIGN | Architecture and Urbanism in China



We are proud to present another AAGRAFA release. Five DVD discs covering the lectures focused on Spanish architects working in China that took place in Madrid Architecture School last September. Available now in ETSAM Library.

Arquitectura y Urbanismo en China

DISC1>>New Architecture of Young Generation in China  Prof. Zhi Wenjun
September 19, 2005 / Deposit number [V-565]

DISC2>>La Nueva ciudad de Bautou  Antonio Ruiz Barbarin
September 20, 2005 / Deposit number [V-566]

DISC3>>Nuestro trabajo en China  Juan Carlos Sancho y Sol Madrilejos
September 21, 2005 / Deposit number [V-567]

DISC4>>Proyectos Urbanos en China  Eduardo Leira
September 22, 2005 / Deposit number [V-568]

DISC5>>Torre Bionica y Ciudad España en Shangai Javier gomez Pioz y Rosa Cervera
September 23, 2005 / Deposit number [V-569]




Books by Otomo & Miyazaki

Today I made a big order to Amazon Japan. Eight great books. Six of them by Katsuhiro Otomo and two by Hayao Miyazaki.

OTOMO KATSUHIRO presents THE MEMORY OF MEMORIES

The art book of the film MEMORIES, three anime stories. Magnetic Rose, Stink Bomb and Cannon Fodder directed respectively by Koji Morimoto, Tensai Okamura and Katsuhiro Otomo. The book collects backgrounds, sketches and storyboards from all all them.

BOOK DETAILS
Publisher: Kodansha (講談社)
Release date: 1996-I-8
Language: Japanese
Number of opages: 160
Retail price: ¥2,000
Size: 10.2 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
ISBN-10: 4063196658
ISBN-13: 978-4063196658

AVAILABILITY
Amazon JP: http://amzn.to/11N70z5
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1wb2vTK
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1vUL97N
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/BOVBna
Amazon DE: http://amzn.to/1AgAMAy
Amazon FR: http://amzn.to/1MJ0Dq8
Amazon IT: http://amzn.to/17Ghwkr
Amazon ES: https://amzn.to/CPEimd

The Storyboard Book STEAM BOY 

This 780 page book contains all the storyboards drawn by katsuhiro Otomo for the animation movie STEAMBOY.

BOOK DETAILS
Publisher: Kadansha (講談社)
Release date: 2004-VIII-20
Language: Japanese
Number of pages: 780
Size: 21.2 x 15 x 5.2 cm
Retail Price: ¥3,990
ISBN-10: 4063645916
ISBN-13: 978-4063645910

AVAILABILITY
Amazon JP: http://amzn.to/11Klhjn
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/14z6C98
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1ctXOvg
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/14ZctXw
Amazon DE:-
Amazon FR: http://amzn.to/1atqXVU
Amazon IT: http://amzn.to/1H54T0H
Amazon ES: http://amzn.to/1EC8pPC


STEAMBOY Mechanical Book

A beautiful book containing hundreds of sketches and designs made for Katsuhiro Otomo's STEAMBOY animation feature film.

BOOK DETAILS
Publisher: Kodansha (講談社)
Release Date: 2004-VIII-4
Language: Japanese
Number of pages: 175
Size: 11.6 x 9.2 x 0.6 inches
Retail price: ¥2,800
ISBN-10: 4063645843
ISBN-13: 978-4063645842

AVAILABILITY
Amazon JP: http://amzn.to/11Nstv1
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1DFe2N3
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1DFeaMM
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1CWM4qL
Amazon DE: http://amzn.to/17Gci8b
Amazon FR: http://amzn.to/17GcmEU
Amazon IT: http://amzn.to/17GcnsD
Amazon ES: https://amzn.to/2QdvPVl

SOS Dai Tokyo Tankentai

Katsuhiro Otomo Anthology volume 2. A collection of Katsuhiro Otomo's manga works from the eighties.

BOOK DETAILS
Publisher: Kodansha (講談社)
Publishing Date: 1996-II-6
Language: Japanese
Number of pages: 253
Size: 23.4 x 17.6 x 1.6 cm (A5)
Retail price: ¥1,200
ISBN-10: 4-06-319658-5
ISBN-13: 978-4-06-319658-0

AVAILABILITY
Amazon JP: http://amzn.to/11y67Jy
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/15o77SY
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1CtIFWd
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/190W7nL
Amazon DE: http://amzn.to/1HeoyJO
Amazon FR: http://amzn.to/1Nv5c7T
Amazon IT: http://amzn.to/1Cr9CbC
Amazon ES: http://amzn.to/1AD1pMF

HIGHWAY STAR 

Katsuhiro Otomo's early manga works from the seventies.

BOOK DETAILS
Publisher: Futabasha (双葉社) ACTION COMICS
First print: 1979-X-13
Language: Japanese
Number of pages: 229
Size: 20.8 x 15 x 2 cm (A5)
Price: ¥650
ISBN: 4-575-93029-6
ISBN: 978-4-575-93029-0

AVAILABILITY
Amazon JP: http://amzn.to/U108bT
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1b5B0PG
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1EpJgTP
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1xdwgnn
Amazon DE: http://amzn.to/1H0tx3C
Amazon FR: http://amzn.to/1wYHFaa
Amazon IT: http://amzn.to/1wYHCeq
Amazon ES: http://amzn.to/1wYHyLN


SHORT PEACE 

By Katsuhiro OtomoA compilation of early works from the end of the seventies.

BOOK DETAILS
Publisher : Futabasha (双葉社) ACTION COMICS
Publication date: 1986-V-15
Language: Japanese
Number of pages: 223
Size: A5
Retail price:¥720
ISBN-10: 4-575-93033-4
ISBN-13: 978-4-575-93033-7

AVAILABILITY
Amazon JP: http://amzn.to/SnCkBi
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1O4ikkw
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1O4ijwR
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1AD50ui
Amazon DE: http://amzn.to/1Crc6Xl
Amazon FR: http://amzn.to/1DzPeXk
Amazon IT: https://amzn.to/2LIuc2h
Amazon ES: https://amzn.to/2YI58fu


Kurenai No Buta Storyboard 

The complete storyboard of the film Porco Rosso by Hayao Miyazaki.
Howl's Moving castle Storyboard 

The complete storyboard of the film Howl's Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki.



Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith



The last episode of the Star Wars prequel trilogy was released in cinemas today, and with it, various books with which the hard core fans can learn the ins and outs on the making of the movie while we  all wait patiently until the film comes out on DVD.

The Art of Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith by J. W. Rinzler
The Making of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith by J. W. Rinzler
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross-Sections by Curtis Saxton, Hans Jenssen & Richard Chasemore

LAB | You and Both - Intervention in Upper Lawn Pavilion






In this year's Projects class in Architecture School, each student had to choose from a list of existing houses, draw and analyze them first, and then, made a proposal for an expansion. I chose architects Alison and Peter Smithson's Upper Lawn Pavilion. I discovered this couple's work in the travel we did to the UK last year. It was such a great experience, we visited many of their buildings.

However, while researching to find information to draw the house properly I come up with their books and writings and this is when I really started to understand their approach towards the architecture. Just a magnificent, clear minded, honest, human scale architects. Nothing to do with what we are used to see now a days in magazines.

By the way, I started working with autoCAD in this my third year in school. It has been a headache at first but, everything seems to go smooth now. I trace the drawings of the house based on the ones found in an old Italian magazines from the school library.

DESIGN | Architectonic use of stone



This week in AAGRAFA we have been digitalizing some old VHS and authoring them to DVD so that they are more accessible for everyone. This time a bunch of old fashioned eighties videos by Spanish stone producing companies that explain the proccess in wich the stones are obtained and how to use them properly. Available now in ETSAM library for the hardcore architects and old school video lovers. 

DISC 1:  Deposit number [V-632]
   1 - Extración y Elaboración del granito / 26 min
   2 y 3 - Métodos de impermeabilización de cubiertas en obra / 28 min

DISC 2: Deposit number [V-633]
   1 - ANGE, Asociación Nacional de Graniteros Españoles / 10 min
   2 - Marmoles de Alicante  / 13 min
   3 - Marmol Macael  / 10 min
   4 - Pizarras SAMACA  / 11 min
   5 - Pizarras CUPA  / 8 min
   6 - FDP, Federación Española de la Piedra Natural  / 18 min


DESIGN | Konstantin Melnikov



I started to work in AAGRAFA in ETSAM library and this is the first DVD I created. It's a digitalization of an old VHS to DVD. I also designed a brand new cover.

Konstantin Melnikov
Directed by Marjo Leupers y Jet Christiaanse
Produced by Qui Vive film productions
Released in 1999

Available with the deposit number [V-320]

Steam Boy Memorial Box




Today I ordered from Amazon Japan the STEAM BOY MEMORIAL DVD BOX, the latest animation film by Katsuhiro Otomo. This beautiful edition contains four discs filled with bonus features and a booklet to narrate the ten year long process on the making of the film.  Written and directed by Otomo, the story takes us into a retro futuristic England, back in the days of the industrial revolution, when steam machines ruled the world. Otomo remains true to his style; an awesome movie full of action and the attention to detail for what he is so well known for.