---

 

 

Greetings All:

 

Thank you for the delicious meal and good company last night aboard the Kowloon. Its too bad that Elvis, Piero and Stephanie were not able to make it. Fun was had nevertheless and we thank Peter for hosting us so graciously at the end of a long work day.

 

Now for the final part of the studio: The Hand-In.

 

By 3 PM Friday (the 30th), please hand to Thomas in the Academic Affairs Office the following (by team):

 

one (1) hard copy of your 11" x 17" SF StitchLink Project (don't forget to add sufficient explanatory text and to caption all images)

one (1) hard copy of your 11" x 17" Shanghai StitchLink Project (don't forget to add sufficient explanatory text and to caption all images)

one (1) disk with all four studio assignments (Precedent, SF Research, SF Project and Shanghai Project) formatted to CCA Archive Standards

two (2) disks with all four studio assignments in pdf format (11" x 17" compilations only, one pdf per assignment)

 

Digo, please add the flash animation for SF to your disks.

 

We will not be able to issue you a grade for the studio if we do not have these materials in hand. Thank you for your timely attention to this.

 

Once again, we would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to all of you for making the semester, and especially the trip to Shanghai, so lively, engaging, productive and fun. We hope you will keep in touch and attend the next Annual StitchLink Potluck.

 

Warmest wishes,

Lisa and Peter

 

 

 

 

---

 

    

 

 

Invited Special Guest Elvis is above, center. Host Boat "Kowloon" is above, right. Be sure to caption every image, and check your spelling.  

THE FIRST ANNUAL STITCHLINK POTLUCK IS ON!

Date confirmed for Wednesday, April 26, 6:30. Location is on Peter's boat (at the dock). Sorry about the confusion from the last minute opinion poll for dates today, but it turns out that Wednesday is still the day when we can get the most people there (all but Piero, who will be sorely missed, but we will do some Sicilian toasts in his honor). We know that some of you have projects due on Thursday, so we will have beverages available that will not numb your minds.

 

PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BRING, and if you will have a guest. Here is the list so far--please update with the details. If you have a +1, add his/her name so we can be friendly...

Piero: Not able to attend because of an evening final...so sorry.

Anand +1: I have finals due Wednesday and Thursday so I won't have time to cook (or make Jello shots, haha) so I'll pick up something for dessert - any suggestions? Cake? Ice Cream? Rum jello shots?

Walter: Pupusas

Victor +1: Empañadas

Ben +1: Ceviche

Geoff: ?

Alex: Some kind of vegetables...

Stephanie: Maybe snow peas laboriously stuffed with crab...but since she has a paper due Thursday I recommend simplifying, maybe to some other vegetable that takes less time? How about picking up salad makings that we assemble at the boat? Peter will make the dressing and has a giant salad bowl to mix it in.

Digo: ?

Lyndon: Lumpia

Min: Ho-Tduk (I know this sounds like a phonetic spelling of a French person trying to say "Hot Dog", or maybe it just refers to a good looking duck, but Min says it is a Korean dessert with little pancakes and sugar, which sounds good to me)

Tan: Spring Rolls  

Lisa + 1: A chicken named Lou SomethingLou Sauce.....also rice. And, in the spirit of the Latin dishes: guacamole and chips.

 

Peter: Beverages for those with projects due Wednesday.

Peter: Beverages for the rest of us. 

 

 

BUT HOW DO WE GET THERE?

We all need to get to the Jack London Square waterfront area in Oakland. Driving is probably the easiest, so maybe you can carpool from CCA. Directions are below. Two other options: You could take the ferry from the San Francisco ferry terminal--there are ferries leaving at 5:45 or 6:25 from San Francisco that arrive in Jack London Square about 20 minutes later. Full schedule here. You can also take the BART--the closest station is Lake Merrit, but the walk is better from Oakland 12th Street. Both are recommended for daytime only-we'll get you back home another way.

 

If you drive, Click this link for a google map to take you from CCA to the parking lot at Jack London Square, Oakland

Once you park your car, use the map below to get from the parking lot to the marina. There is a locked gate at "Point A", which is just to the left of the entry to Il Pescatore Restaurant. If you get to the gate, call Peter's cell phone (206-856-7664) and someone will come to open the gate for you. If the gate is not locked, walk down the handicapped accessible ramp, turn right at the bottom to continue out towards the water, turn right again when you run out of dock, then go all the way to the end, at slip 93B. Picture of the boat is below as well, so you know what your target is.  Call Peter anytime for further details, advice, or directions.

---

For Friday at 3 PM: Please print out and fold one copy of your site guide booklet for the class display!  I will come by to collect them. Peter and I need them for our section of the presentation on Saturday. (My copies are a bit frayed and have notes all over them....)

 

Thanks!  Pace yourselves!!!

Lisa

---

 

FREE PHOTOGRAPHY OF YOUR MODELS

I highly recommend taking advantage of this if possible...you may even be able to use some of the images in your presentations, but definitely it is a good way to get high quality images for your project documentation and portfolios.

 

 

The Architecture Program has invited CCA MArch Alum & pro-photographer, Ted Rzad, to photograph your work.

date:        FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2010

time:        7:00-10PM

location:    TIMKEN RECEPTION.

Some of you will have final reviews on Friday and some of you will be setting up in the nave for Saturday reviews. In the middle is a great opportunity to have your work professionally photographed at no charge to you - PLUS - if you bring a memory stick you can have images of your work immediately! (Otherwise you will receive a disk containing your images asap.)

To add to the festivities pizza will be ordered.

NAAB collection - Please check in with your instructor about whether your model will be labeled and stored after reviews for our NAAB site visit. questions about the shoot? contact Thomas tlandry@cca.edu or Judy jkrasnick@cca.edu

---

All: A note from Michael Bogan:

 

I thought your studio might find this of interest:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/business/global/08chanos.html

Chanos made an excellent (and compelling) argument for the bubble on Charlie Rose last night.  I think the whole studio might find it worth watching:

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10960

---

Quality Stitchlink Sections

by our very own Tan Van Nguyen

 

Bb

 

 

Home Again!

 

Group at Thumb Island project by Qingyun Ma in Qingpu, west of Shanghai.

---

 

Departure Day

 

OK, all, one last Travel Tip: pack a plastic bag (or trash bag) big enough to slip over your suitcase. If it is raining when we are getting to or from a hotel, you just slip it over your suitcase (after making a hole for the handle) and off you go!

 

See you tonight!

Lisa

 

---

 

Brrrrrrr.....thanks for the update, Tan. I just pulled out my lightweight gloves and a hat to bring.

 

Important reminders for today:

1) 5 minute powerpoint presentations on your tour guide area today at the beginning of studio. Plan to print copies of one page guide to bring on trip.

2) pdfs of StitchLink Ferry Precident, SF research and SF project today to download on Lisa's external drive.

3) anyone who still owes Peter $$, bring it today!

and

4) Must have passport and emergency contact info in envelope by Lyndon's desk by beginning of studio today.

 

See you all at 3!

Lisa

---

 

It snowed in Shanghai yesterday!!!!!

http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/shanghai/node23919/node23923/userobject22ai37422.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Shanghai+China+CHXX0116

 

Thanks for the below, Walter!

---

 

china's  blocked  websites

stuff that we cant  look up because its  blocked

here is a link  with more info :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_websites_blocked_in_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TAXI INFORMATION

Here are a few places for which we might want to ask directions, or to which we might take a taxi. It might be worth making a printout for everyone to carry with this kind of info--English name, pronunciation, and Chinese characters. We should try to get this for our hotel as well--and other places we might think of to add.

 

Does someone want to format a list with this info for everyone to carry along?

 

 

 

 

Phone: (86 21) 6598 2200

 

 

---

Shanghai Weather Report:

 

A friend in Shanghai writes that it is quite cold there right now (low 40s during the day, 30s at night). Please plan to bring layers that will allow you to keep warm while we are outside walking the city. It is also rainy right now-- bring a wind-breaker or waterproof or resistant layer along with a collapsable umbrella. Also, bring two pairs of shoes so that if one gets wet during the day you have a dry pair.

 

All this said, March is a changable month. By the time we get there is may be warming up and drying out.....but best be prepared.

 

---

 

FINAL DRAFT ITINERARY

All: here is the most current itinerary. Please note that it has phone contacts for the hotels so that you can give emergency contact numbers to your people here.

 

09.03 StitchLink Itinerary.xls

 

Also, we will be using the itinerary for parts our work during Prep Week. You may want to download it or print it out. Also linked here is the Prep Week Assignment page. We will discuss and make assignments in studio today.

 

3A-Shanghai Prep Week

 

---

 

 

Thank you for reminding me!

yes, please bring (if you have it) a palette knife for removing the acrylic from the surface.  A razor blade or exacto will scratch it.  I will provide the pigment and polymer its not that expensive. Oh... if you have brushes bring them, but make sure they are nylon blends (no horse hair)!  I will bring my brushes with me but I expect to have them back in the same condition as I lent them out.  You don't have to, but if you don't want paint all over your hands, bring gloves.  Don't worry everything is non-toxic!

See you all tomorrow!

Steph

 

 

 

 

FRIDAY WORKSHOP

Thank you all for the effort you put into the work we saw yesterday. It was provocative and allowed for an intriguing conversation that we can carry forward to our work in Shanghai.

 

For tomorrow (Friday) we will have a short class meeting at 3:00 re: assignments for Monday, then we will be doing a workshop getting our gifts made. Please have exacto knives, cutting surfaces and steady hands ready to go.

 

Stephanie, anything else you need people to bring to work with the polymer? Please let people know if you do

.

See you all at 3 tomorrow.

Lisa

---

 

StitchLink:SanFrancisco Presentation Details

 

Greetings all:

The order for today's review will be starting from the South Bay and working our way north. So:

 

Alex/Ben: South Bay

Victor/Anand: Redwood City

Walter/Piero: SFO

Stephanie: OAK

Lyndon/Digo: Bayview

Min/Tan: Islais

Geoff: Fort Mason

 

I will arrive about 2:30 to help orchestrate the pin-up of the class-wide materials.

Everyone should be pinned up and ready to go by 3:15.

We will bring snacks to keep you going after this push.

Looking forward to it!!

 

Lisa (and Peter)

---

 

Ferry Routes

Uploaded the Metro-Ferry Diagram + Logo for you guys to use in your renderings if you like.

---

 

 

Travel Insurance

Greetings all. For anyone who is researching additional travel insurance, I use Medex. You can find them at www.medexassist.com. I bought coverage with them for the Shanghai trip for $42.

As I mentioned last week, be sure you have some sort of medical coverage for the trip, whether it is with your normal carrier or for additional coverage like this.

 

 

---

 

Catamaran Sketup model

Hi awesome people!!!! I uploaded the catamaran sketchup model on to the wiki. Have fun with it.  Sharing is caring (i think)!!!!

 

---

 

 

Mid Week Updates & Fun with Sections

To recap today's reminders:

 

StitchLink: San Francisco

1) Class will be held on Friday from 5 - 8. Everyone is expected to be there at 5. If you cannot stay past 7, I will try to see you before then. Walter and Piero, I want to see you two first.

2) Review for this project, with outside guests, will be on Wednesday, March 3 from 3-7. All students should be pinned up by 3:15 at the latest.

3) All San Francisco Research work should be finished, printed and pinned up in the studio by Friday of this week. Maybe use the slated studio time on Friday (3-5) to finish this up to post. Sorry to have to get tough, but any group not posting by then will lose half a grade on the project.

 

Shanghai  Trip

 

1) Travel costs to Peter and Lisa on Monday of next week. See this space for further instructions.

2) Double check your health insurance to see if you are covered while traveling. Do now in case there is a lead time required for coverage.

3) Everyone should have their visa in hand or at least in process.

4) The Department will need a completed Field Trip form from each student along with a copy of the photo page of your passport. Please have these ready by no later than Friday, March 5.

5) Lisa and Peter's Travel tip sheet will be posted early next week.

 

Section Perspectives

As for the sections perspectives we discussed today, see the new page labeled Section Perspective Samples under General Resources in the Sidebar. For Friday, select a point of view for your section perspective and print it out for discussion.

 

 

---

 

Asian Art Museum Visit

Happy Friday.  See you all this afternoon promptly at 3:15 in the foyer of the Asian Art Museum. In order to get our group rate we had to pre-pay the tickets. Please come with $11 case each to repay us for your ticket. www.asianart.org for location details and so on. KQED did an interview yesterday morning about the show with the curator of tthe museum. You can hear the podcast at http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R201002181000. Listening to it will be great preparation to see the show.

 

After we see the show (the museum closes at 5:00) we will head out for drinks and, for those who want to continue on, Chinese food for dinner. Feel free to invite your significant others to join in. Details to be posted here soon.

 

A new page has been added that is our draft Shanghai itinerary. Please note that this is subject to change....and will.

 

---

 

Arch Daily (Shanghai 2010)

 

Guys check out this link for some of the designs for the Shanghai World Expo.

Some of these started construction at the end of 2009.

http://www.archdaily.com/tag/shanghai-2010/

 

Benjamin Barragan

 

 

AIR TICKET DEADLINE TODAY!!!

All, I got a one day extension on the airfares. However, if you do not book today you will lose the almost $200 discount Cathay Pacific has given us. Book it today.

If you have your ticket, but have not yet marked the contact list on this site to that effect, please do so immediately so we know everyone is covered. Thanks all, Lisa

 

 

---

 

All: for the visa application: we will be visiting Shanghai Municipality and Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

 

SPUR (Shanghai Events)

 

Shanghai’s Fabric of Everyday Life: A conversation with UC Berkeley professor Renee Chow

Hello everyone  the  stitchlink shanghai studio  finally  has  an  email and  photo/video storage !

the  email  is:          ccastitchlink@yahoo.com

the  password is :   shanghaisf

the  flickr account is  accessible  from the  yahoo email page  on the lower left hand  corner.

 

we also have a  gmail account

email: ccastitchlink@gmail.com

ps:      shanghaisf

 

we can also use  the

Picasa Web Albums which lets  us  upgrade  more  storage space for

20 GB ($5.00 USD per year)

80 GB ($20.00 USD per year)

200 GB ($50.00 USD per year) includes free Eye-Fi card

400 GB ($100.00 USD per year) includes free Eye-Fi card

so if all  of  you guys are  down to  chip in  we  can  get  the  space we need  with out

any hassle .

 

Have  fun  uploading the pictures!!!!!  we  take during the  course of the  semester.

Just Remember that  when  uploading the  photos/videos  do it  where  its the  smallest  size and  tagg the  pictures with  your name.

So  if  anyone that is  interested in your  photo, they can  ask for the  original  size .

 

Note: Videos are limited to 90 seconds in length, and 150MB in filesize

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

AISC STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION: If anyone is interested, there is an annual institute of Steel Construction student design competition for projects that feature innovative uses of steel. The competition has an open category, which allows you to do any project that fits within certain criteria.

 

We won't make this a central focus for our studio this semester, since we've got enough on our plates already, but in case any of you are interested in pursuing this more on your own, using the studio project as your entry, I think it is a very worthwhile and well-run competition. Here is a link to the pdf with the rules. Note that you must register by next Tuesday, the 9th--no fee to register, so no risk if you sign up and decide not to complete it.   --Peter

---

Shanghai Air Ticket Purchase

 

OK, everything is all set. Please read these instructions carefully and follow them.

You MUST purchase your ticket before February 11! Otherwise, you are on your own.

 

You need to call Cathay Pacific Airlines at 1-800-233-2742. (Hours M-F, 6:00 AM-5:30 PM, and Saturday 6:00 AM - 4 PM). Give them your name and the reservation number next to it on the Excel spreadsheet attached below. Pay for the ticket with a credit card that you will have with you on the trip. Be sure to book a seats (both ways) as well.

 

The following conditions apply:

Input your passport information as requested. After you have completed your purchase and your passport information, please go to the contact list page on the wiki and put an "x" next to the line beneath your name that says "ticket purchased". There is also a new page on the wiki in the travel section called "Travel-Air Reservations" that has the full list of the Cathay Pacific reservation numbers for the group. Please mark this list as well, when you have completed your reservation.

 

NOTE ABOUT FREQUENT FLYER MILES: It is not possible to get miles on other airlines' frequent flyer systems for this, but you can get credit in the AsiaMiles program. It is definitely worth signing up for an account (it is free) even if you aren't planning a lot of Asia travel--this is a lot of miles in one trip and costs you nothing to start accumulating. To register for an account, go to the AsiaMiles website and get set up--it will issue you your frequent flyer number immediately, and you can then go to the Cathay Pacific website, log in to manage your trip, and add your AsiaMiles number.  This frequent flyer system works with several Asia-based airlines, not just Cathay Pacific, so it is worth getting an account established. --Peter

 

I just completed my reservation.....and it went very smoothly. Got an aisle seat!  --Lisa

Me too--all completed --Peter

Ticket Purchased - Digo

Booked - Felipe

Ticket Purchased (window seats all the way!!) - Anand

 

_Copy of CALIF College of the Arts name list.xls_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Exhibition at Berkeley: see http://www.clui.org/

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, February 2

S  H  A  N  G  H  A  I    1930s

Great News! The Asian Art Museum is mounting an exhibition on Shanghai as part of a year-long celebration (beginning Chinese New Year) of the sister-city relationship between San Francisco and Shanghai. The show opens February 11. I am working on arranging a visit for the studio. In the meantime, check out the Museum's website on the show. It includes links to lots of intriguing background and information about Shanghai.

 

See:   http://www.asianart.org/shanghai.htm

 

For Wednnesday: Each team should be prepared with pdf maps of their specific sites, with discussion and recommendation for locating the landing. Also included in the presentation should be StitchLink possibilities of the site: the other transportation networks; to activities and employment; to residential populations; and to potential development. We will meet once again as a group to view and discuss these.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Monday, February 1

 

Greetings. Today our schedule is as follows:

3:00 All Wet city research posted in 11 x 17 on the pin-up board in the studio

3:15 Be prepared with a powetpoint or pdf of your formatted San Francisco research. Please load them onto one laptop. You will be presenting your findings to the class. Room TBA.

5:30 Group design session for San Francisco waterbus systems.

 

 

 

Tired of getting too many email notifications of changes to the wiki? You can change your personal preferences about how often you want to be notified. Have a look at this link for instructions: http://usermanual.pbworks.com/Notifications+-+My+PBworks

Peter

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Airfare Update:Please read and respond ASAP!

 

 

 

Hi all, just got a call from Cathay Pacific group sales. They got our letter from the airport (thank you, Walter!!) and are working to see if they can match the rates for the less expensive options we are looking at. However, if they can do it, they will need names of passengers immediately to hold the tickets. To this end, please go to the "Studio Member Contacts page in the sidebar. Under your name , please put your name EXACTLY as it appears in your passport. Also note what the country of issue is if not a US passport. We need this whether or not you will be traveling by air with the group--the hotels also sometimes require this information.

 

Also, please email me (at lfindley@cca.edu) if you have 1) a different itinerary than the rest of the class, 2) have made other air arrangements. Lyndon, I know you do. Others?

 

Finally, we will need a commitment about the trip by Friday (Monday next week at the absolute latest) as we are now booking hotels and transportation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wondering about the weather in Shanghai during our trip?

Here is an interesting snapshot for those dates from the Weather Underground:

 

Trip Planner Weather

Shanghai Hongqiao, SH from 1997 to Present — Current Conditions

Historical Summary for March 10 - March 24         

Temperature:

The Average High Temperature is 58 F with a historical range of 37 F to 78 F

The Average Low Temperature is 45 F with a historical range of 30 F to 62 F

There is a 0% chance of a Hot Day (temperature over 90°F / 32°C).

(0 days out of 180 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 0

There is a 43% chance of a Warm Day (temperature over 60°F / 16°C).

(77 days out of 180 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 11

There is a 1% chance of a Freezing Day (temperature below 32°F / 0°C).

(2 days out of 180 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 1 

Cloud Cover:

Average Cloud Cover is partly cloudy

There is a 49% chance of a Cloudy Day.

(81 days out of 165 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 12 

Wind:

The Average Wind is 8 mph with a historical range of 0 mph to 20 mph

There is a 24% chance of a Windy Day (average wind over 10 mph / 15km/h).

(43 days out of 180 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 3 

Humidity:

The Average High Dew Point is 46 F with a historical range of 19 F to 66 F

The Average Low Dew Point is 36 F with a historical range of 0 F to 54 F

There is a 3% chance of a Humid Day (dew point over 65°F / 18°C).

(5 days out of 180 in historical record)

Most consecutive days found in historic record: 1

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PRECEDENT TEMPLATE! A new page has been added (thanks Digo) with a template and other information to use for the Precedent Studies. Please review and try to adjust your projects into this format so we can discuss together at the beginning of class. We will have desk crits and in-studio discussion today to try to wrap up any remaining issues for this phase of the project, so let's be sure to test out the template, update and extend as necessary before the end of today's class, so you all have an agreed-upon and consistent format to use in finishing your pages.

---

 

 

Wednesday, 20 January

 

 

We will have a pin-up in the Nave today. Please bring your draft pages down and get ready for discussion as soon after 3 pm as possible. Pin-up next to each other so we can compare and contrast the work. Looking forward to seeing and discussing the Wet Cities you have been researching.

 

 

 

Until then,

Lisa and Peter

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Welcome, all, to StitchLink:Shanghai

the wiki site for an Advanced Studio

at the California College of the Arts

in San Francisco, California, USA.

 

Faculty Members: Peter Anderson and Lisa Findley

 

StitchLink Studio: Shanghai

As a design concept, StitchLink is the strategic introduction of new elements into an existing urban or architectural fabric with the purpose of connecting, repairing, and or transforming the surrounding areas. The physical size of the intervention may be small or large, but the ambition is to affect a positive and valuable impact that far exceeds the initial investment of resources. A StitchLink is not simply a placeholder for future development. Critical to the design work is programming the project for current and future productivity. 

  

The StitchLink Studio will initially study and clarify this concept through analysis of precedent actions and case studies, identifying common characteristics of projects where a relatively small intervention has reaped large rewards. By looking at both local and global examples, the studio postulates that the concept has highly productive, resource-efficient universal applications.

 

The central project of the 2010 StitchLink Studio: Shanghai will investigate zones where new globalized buildings and urban form meet older structures and patterns of living. This complex condition is everywhere in rapidly transforming Asia and represents spatially, economically and culturally the impacts of the anxiety-ridden game of economic and cultural catch-up that defines the region today. Within these zones are opportunities to investigate the potential of design at multiple scales (from urban to object) and within multiple typologies (from infrastructure, to landscape spaces, to building types). These zones, which are often huge, are orphan zones—no one is paying attention to them, documenting them, or imagining them as productive, sustainable and well-designed places. We propose to adopt one of these spaces as an opportunity to investigate the rich diversity of Asia, her ancient cultures, the raw impact as well as exciting opportunities of globalization and the potential of architecture and design to productively negotiate between the spatial, aesthetic and cultural values of old and new