Song : ASAP Rocky - ‘Peso’
Designers : Bob Frederick, Ian Christopher Thomas
Location : Munich Germany (Via UCLA AUD)
ASAP Rocky is a 23 year old rapper from Harlem. His sound is
Houston influenced. He recently joined Drake on his Club Paradise tour. We can definitely feel that Drake-like hazed out flow in this song ‘Peso’ (
video). We can also feel a similar atmospheric quality in the above renderings by Bob & Ian. It is not only the imagery that deals with blurring lines, but also the architectural concepts which involve modular interior spaces which may be manipulated by individuals within the building, allowing inhabitants to alter their own perspectives of space. They completed this studio in a study abroad to Munich this past autumn, bringing their L.A. influence overseas. Below is a short interview.
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XN : What was the prompt for the project?
Bob & Ian : The objective for this project was to develop a small 4 story office building for an advertising agency. Ultimately the challenge became how to build flexibility into the organization of the office using a novel approach. Due to the nature of advertising team structures and their continual flux of size our system employs the use of a “soft” textile ceiling which the users can manipulate by pulling down sections in order to create more customized working environments. In addition our research had revealed that visible connections through the office space was a desirable environment for both the motivation and communication between employees. Furthermore the typical office building rarely creates the opportunity to utilize outdoor space within the building and when this is the case the result is usually an exterior balcony. Our strategy to divide the mass into 3 parts and departments allows for the development of a shared outdoor space on the interiority of the building. This was a multi-dimensional decision which ultimately provides a space for unique interaction among the employees while providing fresh air to the building and organizing the program into compact units. The approach was to allow for an office building which faces inward towards itself, in the hope of providing the employees with an interior landscape at which to gaze.
XN: Who were your critics?
Bob & Ian : Our critics were Peter Ebner, Alexander Muller, and Stephan Rutzinger
XN : Where is it located?
Bob & Ian : Munich, Germany
XN : What music were you listening to while working on this?
Bob & Ian : Mos Def - Black on Both Sides, Patrick Sweany, ASAP Rocky, Four Tet, Explosions In The Sky, John Coltrane
