Guido + ??? = OMG!!

I've always been curious about 'The One'. Everyone seems to believe that there is only one special person in their life. I disagree. It seems preposterous that you're stuck with only one the rest of your life, I mean, what the hell would you learn from that one person? How to do laundry, how to give a good blowjob (remember girls, not too much teeth or biting), how to put the toilet seat up or how to not nag? The list would be endless. I follow a different route whereby I believe, you meet different 'The One' as you progress in life. You meet them because they are there to challenge, teach and guide you through your life. Of course, I can see many of you disregard this notion but I'm sure if you're honest with yourself, you'll definitely be persuaded. One person?! Pah!! Ridiculous.

All this brings me to discuss the laws of sexual attraction. Yee-haw! According to a sex therapist Dr. Laura Berman, 'attraction has a lot more to do with science and evolution than people might think. We are innately all puppies in heat. We are capable of discerning 10,000 different scents consciously. But then there's a whole realm of unconscious scents that we're not even aware that we're smelling. These odours let people know when a woman is fertile and when a man's testosterone levels are high. As a result, individuals can tell when someone else is most ripe for reproduction'.

According to her, there is a difference between love and chemistry. Take a really good whiff of him without cologne when he's relatively clean (ladies, that's a challenge in itself). If that smell turns you on, that's a really good cue of chemistry. The women were most attracted to the shirts of men with a different major histocompatability complex (MHC) from them. MHC is a collection of genes that are related to immune systems. We unconsciously want to mate with someone who has a different immune system than ours because that helps with the survival of our offspring.

All this is fair and good but where are the living examples? I know this might be a tad bit generalist but interracial relationships tend to be skewed because there is more Black male with White female, White male with Oriental female and Middle Eastern male with White female. Meanwhile, there is a lack of White male with Black female, White male with Middle Eastern female and absolute miniscule (forgive me for the punt!) amount of Oriental male with White female. Why is there such a apparent discrepancy? I might have to do a study on the matter starting in my office. Hopefully, I don't get sued for sexual/racial discrimination. That would be a bummer because it's kinda difficult writing a blog when you're in the cell. Then again, I could do similar research with same-sex inmates' sexual preferences. Hmmm.

Invariably, all these discussions about 'The One' will end up with someone saying, 'you know when you know'. How annoying. What the hell does that mean anyway? If I was to follow Miss Berman's study, I guess I'll end up with a Oriental female. Sounds good because I've never been with one. Result! Talking of which, where is the Brunette? Uh-oh!

hic!...otro vino rojo por favor...hic! hic!

Ah, wines! My lovely friend, your sweet taste makes me feel wanted. I don't think I can ever stop loving you, my sweet lovely wine. Bodegas y Vinedos in Peñafiel, Spain have a 'new-ish' winery & headquarters designed by KonkritBlu Arquitectura. Situated on a small hill in the middle of the Castilian plateau, the concrete building was designed to be a part of the landscape, similar to adding another hill to the terrain. The architects are able to lengthen extend the window length to increase the natural light by extending the roof. Looking closely, you'll notice that the tightly ordered building has its advantages. By narrowing the south portion of the building, a thermal buffer was created. Meanwhile, on the north side, the wider segment with its ground's thermal mass, controls temperature fluctuation of the building.

now showing

Dutch architects Mecanoo have just completed their theatre and congress centre in Lledia. The 37,500 m² contains 1,000 seat theatre hall, two congress halls with 400 and 200 seats, a retail space of 2,591 m², the Mercolleida office’s and two foyers. The building has been clad in stone while the interior, a pallet of white plastered walls with hardwood and marble flooring. A large roof top garden with planting such as roses, ivy and jasmine could also been seen. This is possible due to the horizontal nature of the building. The theatre is clad in dark hard wood with various colours inlaid. The architects call it 'trees of light'. In the centre of the building, a staircase is adorned from ground to the 1st level. Also, a ramp leads visitors from the 1st to the 2nd where they could marvel at the panoramic window across the city.

so, how long have you guys been together?

Ok. I realised that I've posted too many Architectural seriousness this week. So some distractions would be in order. Apart from the usual work and the odd job around the house like painting and gardening, I've been a very good boy, what's happening to me?! It feels like the calm before the storm.

Recently, while having a Rob Roy in Donovan Bar at Browns Hotel, I overheard a conversation by a couple sitting next to me at the bar about their state of friendship. I knew I should have given them their privacy during their serious conversation but it was too good a topic for me to miss. Seriously Guido, what are you doing?!?! Sneaking a peek in the mirror reflection at the back of the bar, they look like a good looking modern couple; young, professional, fashion forward and happy. As my bar tab grew, the conversation got even more serious and I was happy sitting there listening quietly and discreetly.

I mean, relationships are very different now than what I used to remember. John & Jane (generic names, of course) are trying to figure out where they are at. Are they friends, good friends, friends with benefits, dating, going steady, seeing each other, going out, hanging-out or coupled up? If you ask me, it sounds like a minefield of terms that might confuse even for the most experienced. From what I could gather, they have been friends for a while but recently been spending a lot of time together. To add further spice, one of them has expressed their feeling for the other hence the reason for this whole talk.

Why is it so difficult? Isn't it just the level of commitment they are willing to accept? Dating is the period where two people first really get to know each other and will tentatively discover whether they are compatible in personalities, attitudes, sexually, etc. before making any kind of real commitment. If everything works out, they both will effectively become a couple. Done! That was simple wasn't it? Obviously, certain rights or duties are expected; such as monogamy, time together, observing special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, etc.) and of course sex. In Western society between adults, sex becomes an expected mutually expressed behaviour. None of these are expected of two people dating although it would be a bonus if it did. I never say no to sex. Never!! No one ever should either.

If you introduce someone as your steady, serious other, partner, girl/boyfriend (ewwww!! sounds so weird), then you’re going out and no longer simply dating. Strictly speaking if you’re dating someone you have no right or claim to exclusivity and vice-versa. Having said that, the longer you date and the closer you are at getting to going out and the less acceptable it would be to date others. Damn it!!

By the end of the night, both John & Jane finally agreed that they are not friends with benefits, not just seeing each other, not just hanging out, a bit further than dating, closer to going out and definitely good friends. That must have been a tiring conversation for both of them and my bar tab was a shocker. I wonder whether I can claim some money off the newly defined John & Jane.

steep gradient

What do you do when your site is a steep slope? Either you flatten the whole thing like an image in Photoshop or you embrace the damn thing. Fortunately for us, that's what the architects Asensio Mah did for the Q-House in northern Spain. Due to this, they have created a sort of alternative domestic atmosphere for the residents. They have come up with a building that is arranged into 3 axes centred around a central circulation point. They have also placed the residence in a northeast-southwest direction to gain as much daylight as possible for each room.

Saying that, similar to my previous posting of ZONE-E's project for the miners social housing project, Asensio Mah have also clad the building in a dark composite panel. These panels have been fabricated digitally to delineate the various volumes of the building.

carbon emissions

Yet another Zon-e Architects project, located in a mining town in the heart of the Cantabrian Mountains, Spain. This housing project is state-funded and is the first new residential development in the region for 25 years. If you look at it closely, you'll notice that the form of the building comprises two masses perpendicular to each other. Why, you might ask. The architects have decided that the building form takes precedent from the jagged mountains, which at times become geometric. Slate is used for the building to keep its colour and material in context with the surrounding. Since it is a social housing for miners, the black facade looks like coal thus absorbing the daylight. Each residence will occupy the different 15 apartments in terms of plan & internal size although the external building looks uniform. One sure thing is that they will all have the view of Asturia's landscape.

you say lattice, I say lettuce

The site for the City Hall in Noain (northern Spain) is located in-between a heavily built urban area and a car park. Due to this, ZON-E Architects decided to create a common ground between the two spaces landscapes. Looking at the building, the viewer will notice that it's composed of different layers. A strict geometric layer and a organic lattice. The inner layer is strictly geometric, is formed by a double translucent skin separated by a buffer zone which helps passive cooling and natural day lighting for the building. Meanwhile, the organic shape consists of an external membrane in a metallic lattice. The idea is that, creeping vegetations will grow up the lattice and change the appearance of the building at different times of year thus helping with solar shading and being deciduous will allow for passive heating in the winter. The architects didn't just stop there; they installed a geothermal heat pump, 70m below the building to create electricity. Overall, with all these sustainable technology, the building's carbon emissions have been reduced by 60%.

8 tomatoes for £1

Check this out! In London, pop-up shops and restaurants are all the rage but in Madrid, they prefer pop-up markets. This temporary mercado has recently been completed by Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos. The surrounding area have gone through a development process, which includes a new sport centre, car parks, shopping centre, public library and public outdoor area. During these constructions, the market acts as a buffer for the neighbourhood. You'll notice that the market is divided up in to six pentagonal shaped floor areas, which houses different number of stalls and outlets. On top of that, each market structure has been designed with different dimensions, heights and floor layouts in a response to the sensitivity of the site in particular, its buildings. Opaque polycarbonate is used as the exterior facade to allow natural light into the market during the day, and transform the market into a lighting solution for the square during the night. Ingenious. Once construction work of the market’s surrounding development have finished, it is understood that the pentagonal structure will be taken down and relocated to another location in the city.

does my bum look big in this?

Ah! I can sense the excitement already. Brunette is leaving for Madrid end of this week. I'm sure she'll have a great weekend with the girls there. 3 Brunettes & 1 Blonde = Lots of shopping, cocktails & dancing. The Brunette will have my 'cocktail bible' during the trip. Inside, she'll find places for the metropolitan's hedonistic lifestyle. So, please take care of it! Anyway, I thought it would be appropriate to review the city again, through the women's eyes rather than rant about Architecture again. And what better to discuss than shopping!

Personally, there are 5 places to shop in Madrid: Chueca, Salamanca, Puerta del Sol, Cuatro Caminos and Princesa. Ok, let's start with Chueca. It's a trendy and bohemian area, where you’ll find real originals and designer goods but the prices are a bit high and the best street to head for is Calle Hortaleza. Next is Salamanca, a glamorous place to do shopping, also nicknamed ‘the golden mile’. Here you'll find Goya, Lagasca, Velázquez, Jorge Juan, Serrano and Castelló. The only thing is, like Bond St, the prices are to match the style.

Similar to all cities in Europe, you'll find many familiar shops in the centre of Madrid, like Grand Via, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and similar streets nearby. Names like Mango, Zara, Camper, El Corte Ingles, Pimkie and Bershka are abundant. If you're on a budget and think that life's too short to spend it all on shopping, head towards the area of Argüelles, on the streets of Alberto Aguilera and Princesa. Another bargain hunter's fav is Cuatro Caminos, north of Madrid. In case you get lost, it's in between the streets of Bravo Murillo and Orense. If markets are what you're after, head down toward Rastro (see previous Madrid posting).

So there we have it, shopping guide a la Alcoholic Architect. By the way, Alcoholic Architect accepts no responsibility for lost of funds due to excessive shopping, drinking, clubbing and also if the shops mentioned above are not to your individual taste. Please remember we are only men after all, what do we know. Happy shopping!!

paddle strokes

I have always loved water and mountains hence my interests in sailing and mountain sports. And once in a while, I'm lucky enough to see both and Zahara de la Sierra in Cádiz, Spain is such a site. The study area consists of electrical lines, narrow roads and a strict maximum reservoir water level. The architects, Julio Barreno Gutiérrez have been sensitive to the local architectural style and made the single floor building with 200mm thick concrete walls with white mortar finish and black tiled roof with skylights. Inside it is divided into 2 main spaces, one for storage of the canoes and the other a private space that houses the showers, toilets and changing rooms. To show a further demarcation of space, they have used red tiles on the walls.