The last few issues of architecture nz seems out of the ordinary, with more bite, more frustration and some unexpected articles.

Print periodicals are hard right now.  We all know that, with advertorial income shifting quickly online, the printed journal is having to work at what it does best -lengthy, considered and even academic writing, so it's with surprising enjoyment that I've watched architecture nz take on a few more daring projects in the last few issues.

One article that finally compelled me to report on the journal's recent experiments was Ross T. Smith's 'Warm Fuzzies' (architecture nz, No2, 2010. p26-28), an essay (yes, an actual essay in architecture nz)  who is completing his PhD through Auckland University on the work, writings and teachings of Pallasmaa.  

Spending the first half of the essay conveying key positions in Pallasmaa's recent writings, The Thinking Hand in particular, Ross T. Smith sets up a fertile ground for an attack on architectural education –a topic in dire need of some column inches.

On 'The Thinking Hand' Smith points out:

"The Thinking Hand essays propositions on how the body and the mind may be reintegrated in order to subvert the visual hegemony in our current cultural condition."  He continues, "Pallasmaa espouses praktognosis, knowledge through practical action.  He advocates maintaining the physical, sensual, and material qualities in architectural education through practices such as hand drawing and model making, and preserving connections to the traditions of craft, whilst preserving the indeterminate and dynamic practice of art and the ourpourings of the imagination."

Warmly, we are offered some insight into the new and unpublished work of Pallasmaa (titled fantastically, "In praise of vagueness"), like such humbling gems from Pallasmaa: "my sense of uncertainty has grown constantly to a degree that is has become nearly intolerable."  We can look forward to the full book soon, I hope.

The critique of architectural education is clearly articulated by Pallasmaa and Ross T. Smith, who are committed to energetically muddying the barren landscape of education they see around them.

"Architectural education and a dynamic professional rigour are necessary to avoid a blinkered plunge into the obscurity of substance brought about by a superficial, image-driven presetnation in schools of architecture where the sensuous, the haptic and the imaginary are overwhelmed by the visual and digital.  For Pallasmaa the human condition is an "impure" and "dirty" mixture of ingredients."

Some great polemic finally finding its way to the pages of architecture nz.  Although I won't got in further depth here, another key Issue worth checking out is last years 'Looking for Edges' edition (No.6, 2009), which had a curious 'insert' Guest-Edited by Tony van Raat, well worth a read.

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