Me and Year Three!

It has been a while since my last post! The hectic pace of year two and the hunt to find a presentation style that i can use to communicate my ideas took a while to get used too!

But I made it and I am here excited to be starting my final year.

I suppose i had better start by updating you on what i got up too over the summer.
A subtle but i feel important change to begin with then. I finally made the jump from PC to Mac which i admit I had reservations about but apart from the price difference has turned out to be a really good move. The improved graphics, processor speed and work flow make the design process a more enjoyable experience. I do have to admit however that there were also much more materialistic reasons for making the switch, the design and materials used in the IMac along with its 27 inch LED screen make the machine very visually pleasing.  

The majority of my summer was spent back working at the architectural practice in manchester where i had worked full time prior to leaving to follow the full time study route. This kind of experience has proved in the past to be invaluable and hugely informative, and this time was no different.

I also managed to get to Italy on a family holiday at the end of June. This was a great trip! We rented a villa in the tuscan mountains and due to its position managed to see many of the countries great cities including Pisa, Florence, Lucca, Siena, Volterra and San Gimignano. These however will need a section on their own which i will try and post in the next few weeks!

Back in manchester and with a bit of spare time before I started year two I took the chance to see the Andy Warhole exhibition at the Lowry Centre at Salford Keys.

http://www.thelowry.com/events/andy-warhol-divas/andy-warhol/?gclid=CKyYpvzPn6sCFQcNtAodcxDniQ

I have to admit i was not all that impressed with Warholes work although there is no denying the inventive use of photography and stylistic approche that he was responsible for pioneering still strike chords with people today. However  I couldn't help thinking that Warhole was not so much a great thinker as a "hanger on" to the rich and famous at the time. He seemed to become the in vogue artist to work with at the time rather than one of any great skill or vision. The exhibition itself was well laid out and very informative.

The end of the road

31st August 2010
After many stressful and long weeks the day has finally come where I hand over my portfolio of work for year one of my Architecture degree and hope for the best.
I will be a lot more relaxed during year two as I have now left my full time job at Lancaster Maloney and will be concentrating on my studies full time.
I have worked for Lancaster Maloney for just over 4 years and it was a tough decision to leave but I have gained so much knowledge / experience over this time and I will be eternally grateful. On the plus side they have asked me to stay on one day a week to manage the shipping container building and complete planning applications for them which I am more than happy to do.
I will continue to document my progress in my blog and hope that year 2 is as insightful as year 1 has been!