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RUR Architecture working files
1996-2014
Series
This series documents Jesse Reiser and Nanako Umemoto’s design process for the Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library competition in 1996.
The variety of formats present in the series relate to the firm’s design process for this project, where manual drawings, physical models and CAD software contributed to one another throughout design iteration. Some digital files were created after the competition.
Manual drawings include penciled sketches, detailed inked plans and printed CAD files generally taped on larger mylar sheets. They represent either plans or details of the building’s design. The printed renderings most often present elevations and sections of the buildings. For plans, other printed CAD files were inked back on mylar sheets. Drawings are often annotated and precisely identify the different elements of the library’s program.
Digital files represent either elements of the architectural design (conveyors, auditorium, store, etc.) or detailed plans, including topographical lines and 3-D models. They include rendered and scanned images and plans in TIFF, GIF, JPEG, PICT (MacIntosh QuickDraw) and FH5 (Macromedia Freehand) file formats. Most CAD models were created in form*Z, although Microstation DGN files and IGES files created in Alias are also present in the project records. The directory “Kansai Documents” contains a few textual records created with the publishing software QuarkXPress, including labels to be printed and used on physical drawings, correspondence and a text by Jesse Reiser for the Reversible Destiny exhibition catalogue in 1997.
Most directories and file names are indicative of the file’s content, clearly referring to building elements, although in some cases files names are non-descriptive. For example, some files use the name of one of the assistants (Yama). File names are sometimes repeated in different directories, including files that are part of AP177.S2.001
Material in the series was arranged by the creator and has been kept in its original order, except for the five models which were rehoused in custom boxes.
Drawings, printed renderings, models and some digital images were numbered and inventoried by RUR Architecture in no particular order. Drawings and printed renderings were rehoused and kept their inventory order. Inventory numbers are written on interleaves within the folders.
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This file consists of images corresponding to renderings from CAD software created after the competition, likely for exhibitions or publications. It was transferred to CCA on a CD identified “RUR Architecture Kansai inventory 2/17/14”.
Original directory name: "Digital". Most common file formats: Tagged Image File Format.
1 File
RUR Architecture Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library project records,
Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de RUR Architecture/
Gift of RUR Architecture
1 File
Sheet (largest): 61 x 91 cm Sheet (smallest): 22 x 61 cm
RUR Architecture Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library project records,
Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de RUR Architecture/
Gift of RUR Architecture
Objects that have been catalogued:
1 File
Sheet (largest): 64 x 92 cm Sheet (smallest): 17 x 28 cm
RUR Architecture Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library project records,
Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de RUR Architecture/
Gift of RUR Architecture
Objects that have been catalogued:
1 File
Sheet (largest): 60 x 91 cm Sheet (smallest): 28 x 44 cm
Drawings in this file were made on Clearprint™ translucent paper. The mineral oil transparentizing agent in this paper can leach into and cause oily stains in adjacent papers. It can also solubilize certain inks. Drawings are isolated in the folder with Mylar™ barriers and interleaves that should be kept in order when drawings are being accessed.
RUR Architecture Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library project records,
Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de RUR Architecture/
Gift of RUR Architecture
Objects that have been catalogued:
1 File
Sheet (largest): 70 x 91 cm Sheet (smallest): 42 x 48 cm
Drawings in this file were made on Clearprint™ translucent paper. The mineral oil transparentizing agent in this paper can leach into and cause oily stains in adjacent papers. It can also solubilize certain inks. Drawings are isolated in the folder with Mylar™ barriers and interleaves that should be kept in order when drawings are being accessed.
RUR Architecture Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library project records,
Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de RUR Architecture/
Gift of RUR Architecture
Objects that have been catalogued:
1 File
Sheet (largest): 63 x 91 cm Sheet (smallest): 41 x 56 cm
Drawings in this file were made on Clearprint™ translucent paper. The mineral oil transparentizing agent in this paper can leach into and cause oily stains in adjacent papers. It can also solubilize certain inks. Drawings are isolated in the folder with Mylar™ barriers and interleaves that should be kept in order when drawings are being accessed.
RUR Architecture Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library project records,
Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de RUR Architecture/
Gift of RUR Architecture
Objects that have been catalogued:
1 File
Model (largest): 9 x 45 x 15 cm Model (smallest): 1 x 25 x 6 cm
RUR Architecture Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library project records,
Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de RUR Architecture/
Gift of RUR Architecture
Objects that have been catalogued:
This file consists of the digital working files retained by RUR Architecture at their office. It was transferred to CCA on an EZ Drive cartridge identified “Reiser + Umemoto Kansai-kan National Diet Library”.
The following files were forward-migrated to versions 6 and 7, or 8, of form*Z Project File format:
Kansai Diagrams/diagram-1
Kansai 3-D Models/building/COMPLETE BUILDING
Kansai 3-D Models/building/pig.1
Kansai 3-D Models/building/scissors
They are available by consulting AP177.S1.008.FM
Most common file formats: form*Z Project File, Macintosh PICT Image, Quark Xpress Data File, Microstation CAD Drawing, Graphics Interchange Format, Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES), Macromedia Freehand.
1 File
RUR Architecture Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library project records,
Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de RUR Architecture/
Gift of RUR Architecture
Objects that have been catalogued:
Files were migrated by a CCA collaborator in 2015 and in 2017 as part of the preparation for the Archaelogy of the Digital Complexity and Convention exhibit and ePublications series.
While files “diagram-1” and “pig” were migrated to version 8 of the software, files “COMPLETE BUILDING” and “scissors” were migrated to both versions 6 and 7 of form*z.
Original files may be found within AP177.S1.008, at these file paths:
Kansai Diagrams/diagram-1
Kansai 3-D Models/building/COMPLETE BUILDING
Kansai 3-D Models/building/pig.1
Kansai 3-D Models/building/scissors
Most common file formats: form*Z Project File
1 File
Files may be accessed using form*Z software version 6 to 8.
RUR Architecture Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library project records,
Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de RUR Architecture/
Gift of RUR Architecture
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