Late night architecture

Baby nephew born this evening at 10.15! Both doing well.
Keep thinking about the first sleepless nights with my three, and, being similarly wide awake, thought I'd post a long overdue homage to modernist architecture (yes, I do live in a thatched cottage - it all makes sense in my head).

Was reminded of our visit to the Villa Savoye in Poissy (just outside Paris), when watching the RIBA Stirling Prize
and Tom Dyckhoff's piece on the Culture Show Special on the different 'branches' of modernism, including something called 'contextual modernism' which, I think, sits alongside, or mixed in with, other styles.
I'd never thought that my liking for light flooded, clean lined architecture could ever meet up with our quirky and crooked homestead (or 'scruffy house' as my nephew describes it). Maybe 'contextual modernism' is worth investigating, maybe a bit of googling...

Now that does make me feel sleepy.

A sixth-form study station



A learning pod



A children's centre





A birthday party



And a primary school









We were in London this weekend for a friend's birthday party and Open House. It was a busy, fun, lovely, inspiring day. I always like to see good design and architecture, in schools especially, because it can speak directly to children about all sorts of things without needing to be explained by an adult. The etching on the glass in the primary school (which is on every door) says very clearly and constantly "this place is for all of you"
And it was really lovely to see old friends and gaup at how our babies are all turning into teenagers and that yes, boys and girls can still play together - they had a great time!

Now, a sunday afternoon to digest. (Or maybe a pod-like, sedum roofed chicken coop with a fretwork gate and integrated stainless steel feeding station and egg-collector - where's that hammer?)

[And as soon as I tapped out those words - where's that hammer? - I started to wonder, about chicken coops and wood and nails, and plastic and pods and schools and design, and children and making things. Is modern school design alienating children? Is a plastic pod 'too far' from a child? Or does the Early Learning Centre need to bring out a plastic moulding kit?

Maybe I will just digest.]