Author: Ryan VanderVelden

Travel

Museums and Architecture: London

by Ryan VanderVelden2 Comments on Museums and Architecture: London
Museums and Architecture: London

“Architectural travel does not end with maturity – all the practicing architects I know travel in order to see places with their own eyes, to observe the effect of a specific form, a quality of light, or a particular dimension, and to learn how people behave in certain spaces.”

Witold Rybczynski, How Architecture Works: A Humanist’s Toolkit

While I am not an architect, I do enjoy traveling to new cities. Each new city brings with it the excitement of seeing beautiful buildings. Pictures can only show us one particular detail or a single segment of scenery. They are crafted to show their subjects in the most flattering light. But seeing something in person is a completely different experience. We see how all of the elements that define a city interact with each other. We see their flaws and shortcomings and we also see their beauty from different angles and perspectives. There is a new context, and for us, the traveler, that is what excites us.

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Travel

Pictures From the Pacific Northwest: Seattle

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“Of the many doorways we pass in a short walk, most are fulfilling their purpose, most of them are well-enough built. How many are worth a second look? It seems that there is something more than merely ‘function,’ something more than good construction, something more difficult to achieve, if so few can achieve it. It is precisely the pursuit of this something that makes of architecture a thing apart.”

Paul Philippe Cret

I had the opportunity to visit Seattle, Washington recently and my experience was everything I dreamed it would be. The Pacific Northwest is notorious for its rainy weather and gloomy skies and sure enough the clouds were out in full-force every morning. The following photo series is from October of 2017.

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Thoughts

White Noise: Airplane

by Ryan VanderVeldenLeave a Comment on White Noise: Airplane

I was thinking about liminal spaces when I wrote this. Traveling by plane is so routine that the novelty of being in the air has worn off. Now it is just another part of the destination. Most people do what they can to pass the time: sleep, watch movies, read. I enjoy taking the last flight home. Nights are quiet, and there is something magical about being the last person to leave the airport. It is like going to a party, but only the end, when everyone has left and the hosts are cleaning up.

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