Paris 2010.

Recently, I have just finished my second assignment named "Analysis of Precedent" project.  We were given a house to break down and analysis every aspect of that particular house. My group and I were given "La Maison Latapie" designed by the architects Anne Lacaton and Jean Philippe.  

"Maison Latapie" front view

"Maison Latapie" back view

This house is built in Floirac, France. In the summer I spent two weeks in Paris with my good friend Caitlin. Studying this house and where it was situated reminded me of my summer.  The design of this house is very different from what i have seen before, very much like most of the architecture in Paris for example, the Notre Dame and the Paris Opera house. Those two weeks were entirely enjoyable with new experiences. We stayed in the Ibis Hotel- Porte De Clichy. It was very well located with only around three metro stops to the centre of Paris. The metro system in Paris was very confusing. With so many lines and changes, we got lost quite a few times. One time the door shut with me in the train and Caitlin stuck on the platform! Eventually we began to get used to the crazy system and were able to find outr way around without taking a detour. I found out when i came back that Paris has one of the busiest metro systems with over 300 stations. So i think we did extremly well since we are both used to the Glasgow Subway system, which travels in a clockwise circle and has only fifeteen stops. We did most of the tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Musee de'Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, River Seine and the Louvre. The Louvre was one of my favourite trips. The sheer scale of the museum is extraordinary and the number of art pieces is amazing. The outside is just as spectacular as the inside. The pyramid (as seen in the middle picture) which juts outs is in complete contrast with the traditional architecture of the museum. There are mixed reviews of the pyramid but i feel it reminds us of how far art and architecture has come. Despite my different opinions of "Maison Latapie" I was pleased that I was able to study this building because it reminded me of my time in Paris.