POSSIBLE MEDIUMS

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Possible Mediums presents a collection of sixteen speculative design mediums by emerging architects. Each chapter defines an active medium in contemporary architecture through descriptions, drawings, and objects. Possible Mediums arranges projects according to shared technical and aesthetic traits, creating a vibrant taxonomy of design. Descriptive texts explain the working principles behind each medium and introduce design concepts intended to inspire students and professionals alike. Through its many contributors, Possible Mediums establishes design as a collective endeavor propelled by the open exchange of ideas and techniques. Possible Mediums is not a systematic theory, a manifesto, or a banal survey; it is a projection of architecture and knowledge to come.

Purchase a copy of the book through Actar or Amazon.

Events

October 5th, 2018
Syracuse University’s Fisher Center in New York City
Possible Mediums Book Launch and Exhibition
Adam Fure, Kelly Bair, Kristy Balliet, and Kyle Miller
w/ David Erdman, 5:30pm-8:00pm

January 22nd, 2019
Syracuse University School of Architecture
Possible Mediums Book Launch
Kyle Miller
w/ Britt Eversole, 5:15pm-6:30pm

January 28th, 2019
California College of the Arts
Possible Mediums Book Launch
Kristy Balliet and Kyle Miller
w/ Dora Epstein Jones, 6:00pm-7:30pm

February 4th, 2019
SCI-Arc in Los Angeles
Possible Mediums Book Launch and Exhibition
Kelly Bair, Kristy Balliet, and Kyle Miller
w/ Marcelyn Gow, 7:00pm-9:00pm

February 14th, 2019
Université Laval
Possible Mediums Lecture
Kelly Bair and Kyle Miller
6:00pm-7:30pm

February 21st, 2019
McGill University School of Architecture
Possible Mediums Lecture
Kyle Miller
12:30pm-1:30pm

February 22nd, 2019
Ohio State University Knowlton School of Architecture
Possible Mediums Panel Discussion
Kyle Miller with Ashley Bigham, Erik Herrmann, Justin Diles, and Emily Mohr, moderated by Karen Lewis.
12:30pm-1:30pm

March 1st, 2019
Architectural Association Bookstore
Possible Mediums Book Presentation
Kyle Miller and Sean Yendrys
6:30pm-8:00pm

March 13th, 2019
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Possible Mediums Book Launch
Adam Fure, Kelly Bair, Kristy Balliet, and Kyle Miller
w/ John McMorrough, 12:00pm-1:00pm

April 25th, 2019
Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts
Possible Mediums Book Launch
Adam Fure, Kelly Bair, Kristy Balliet, and Kyle Miller
w/ Zoe Ryan, 6:00pm-7:30pm

Contributors

Possible Mediums includes contributions from Ellie Abrons, Andrew Atwood, Kutan Ayata, Kelly Bair, Kristy Balliet, Jennifer Bonner, Laurel Broughton, Brennan Buck, Brandon Clifford, McLain Clutter, Angela Co, Greg Corso, Justin Diles, David Freeland, Benjamin Freyinger, Adam Fure, Joanna Grant, Stewart Hicks, Andrew Holder, Molly Hunker, Thomas Kelley, Andrew Kovacs, Jimenez Lai, Michael Loverich, Alex Maymind, Wes McGee, Jeff Mikolajewski, Kyle Miller, Meredith Miller, Whitney Moon, Thom Moran, Anna Neimark, Allison Newmeyer, Carrie Norman, William O’Brien Jr., Kyle Reynolds, Bryony Roberts, Michael Szivos, James Michael Tate, Clark Thenhaus, Antonio Torres, and Michael Young; with extended texts from Dora Epstein Jones and John McMorrough. Possible Mediums was edited with Courtney Coffman and designed by Sean Yendrys.

Possible Mediums

ARTIFACTS are man-made objects gathered and reused in the composition of new constructions.

ARTIFACTS are man-made objects gathered and reused in the composition of new constructions. #possiblemediums

BODIES are continuous topological forms with features resembling human or animal body parts.

BODIES are continuous topological forms with features resembling human or animal body parts. #possiblemediums

FURNITURE refers to objects with expressive forms, details, and components that challenge the rituals of eating, sitting, sleeping, storage and display.

FURNITURE refers to objects with expressive forms, details, or components that challenge the rituals of eating, sleeping, storage, and display. #possiblemediums

GRAPHICS are applied illustrations that embellish or obscure architectural elements and surfaces.

GRAPHICS are applied illustrations that embellish or obscure architectural elements and surfaces. #possiblemediums

GRIDS are underlying formal structures guiding the arrangement of architectural elements in two-dimensional representation and three-dimensional space.

Maymind_​Four Towers with Apologies to Rossi_Updated Extra-01

LINES are abstract geometric entities manifested as material constructions organizing form, space, structure, and use.

Kyle Reynolds and McLain Clutter_Empty Pavilion_06_IG

NARRATIVES are graphic stories of real or fictional architecture involving sequential arrangements of language, animations, illustrations, and props.

NARRATIVES are graphic stories of real or fictional architecture involving sequential arrangements of language, animations, illustrations, or props. #possiblemediums

PATTERN is a repetitive arrangement of linear elements that produces figuration through excessive overlapping.

PATTERN is a repetitive arrangement of linear elements that produces figuration through excessive overlapping. #possiblemediums

PLANS are two-dimensional representations of walls, windows and doors cut up, recombined, or extruded to produce new spatial and formal arrangements.

PLANS are two-dimensional representations of walls, windows, and doors cut up, recombined, or extruded to produce new formal and spatial arrangements. #possiblemediums.jpg

PLASTIC is a synthetic material used in non-standard fabrication to create heterogeneous tactile and visual qualities.

TEAM_Clastic Order 4-IG

PRIMITIVES are simple geometric shapes that mutate or combine to generate unusual wholes with uncharacteristic parts.

Obrien_Seven_5_UPDATE-IG

PROFILES are closed, two-dimensional lines translated in three-dimensional space to form figural mass.

PROFILES are closed, two-dimensional lines translated in three-dimensional space to form figural mass. #possiblemediums

PUZZLES are assemblies of interlocking components that use flanges and seams to balance spatial and geometric complexity.

CyclopeanCannibalism_004-IG

ROCKS are architectural forms produced from digital manipulations of found materials.

Fure_Rocks_9-IG

STACKS are discrete objects accumulated vertically.

FirstOffice_PS1 Dolmen_03-IG

VOLUMES are sequences of contained spaces resulting from the articulation and accumulation of surfaces.

Young Ayata - Bauhaus Phase 2 Axon Modules New PM-01

Image Credits

 
ARTIFACTS: Design With Company, Late Entries…, 2015
BODIES: Andrew Holder (The LADG), 48 Characters, 2013
FURNITURE: Carrie Norman and Thomas Kelley, Wrong Chairs, 2013
GRAPHICS: Anna Neimark and Andrew Atwood, Paranormal Panorama, 2013
GRIDS: Alex Maymind, Four Towers with Apologies to Rossi, 2013
LINES: Kyle Reynolds and McLain Clutter, Empty Pavilion, 2012
NARRATIVES: Bureau Spectacular, Beachside Lonely Hearts, 2015
PATTERN: David Freeland and Brennan Buck, Slipstream, 2013
PLANS: Kyle Miller, The Plan is the Generator, 2015
PLASTIC: T+E+A+M, Clastic Order, 2017
PRIMITIVES: William O’Brien Jr., Seven: A Numbers Game, 2016
PROFILES: Jennifer Bonner, Domestic Hats, 2014
PUZZLES: Matter Design, Cyclopian Cannibalism, 2017
ROCKS: Adam Fure, Rocks, 2014
STACKS: Anna Neimark and Andrew Atwood, PS1 Dolmen, 2016
VOLUME: Young & Ayata, Vessel Collective, 2015

Acknowledgments

Although our story is one of self-discovery, we’ve benefitted immensely from the foresight and support of numerous mentors and administrators. All of our schools were under new leadership when this project was conceived, and those leaders invested heavily in young faculty and their ideas. We owe a great debt to them for their unwavering support of not only us, but of speculative architecture in general. Their encouragement, advice, and participation throughout this process is an implicit nod to all that is possible in architecture and to them (Michael Cadwell, Jeffrey Kipnis, Rob Livesey, John McMorrough, Monica Ponce de Leon, Robert Somol, and Michael Speaks) we say thank you! Additionally, we would like to thank Courtney Coffman for invaluable editorial guidance.

Possible Mediums is funded by the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, the University of Michigan, Syracuse University, The Ohio State University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.