http://oliverbridge.com/article/ban_the_brick.html2008-05-08 19:42:16
Prior to the development of the Brick all simple peasant houses were timber frame with wooden cladding or brick or daub infill.

Historically the concern was the spread of fire which led to the predominance of brick.

Today with modern fire alarm systems and plasterboard lining systems as well as other common sense precautions the risk of fire can easily be mitigated.

Wooden buildings last as long as masonry building if they are properly detailed and cared for.

With the obvious implications on CO2 emissions i simply cannot understand why we continue to use fired bricks.

Historically bricks were used with finesse, cleverly detailed to give delight and visual interest.

This is no longer the case.

Brickwork panels of immense proportions stupidly subdivided with expansion gaps are so often the norm these days, details that do exist are often bizarre and defy the laws of Gravity.

I am sorry to say.

The days of the brick have passed. Ban the brick, Ahmen.]]>http://oliverbridge.com/article/the_eternal_triangle.html2008-03-17 10:09:57
The problem is only 2 can be achieved"]]>http://oliverbridge.com/article/on_fenestration.html2007-12-17 14:23:26
"The history of Architecture is the history of the window"

This simple little sentence to me sums up a little understood aspect of architectural design, the importance of fenestration design.

The key defining aspect of any building is its relationship between the inside and outside. Indeed without any relationship between the inside and outside a building could be seen as merely a box.

Further more the actual detailing and proportion of the windows is in my opinion key to the aesthetic success or otherwise of an architectural composition.
]]>http://oliverbridge.com/article/john_ruskin_on_cost.html2007-05-22 23:25:54John Ruskin, champion of the Arts and Crafts and modern painting.

It’s unwise to pay too much. But it’s worse to pay too little.

When you pay too much, you lose a little money, that is all.

When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do.

The common law of business balances prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It can’t be done.

If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run.

And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better.

There is hardly anything in the world that someone can’t make a little worse and sell a little cheaper—and people who consider price alone are this man’s lawful prey.]]>http://oliverbridge.com/article/first_blog.html2007-05-19 15:58:40
"good architecture must comprise of in equal measure Commodity, Firmness and Delight"]]>