RUR Architecture working files

Part of:

People:

RUR Architecture (archive creator)

Title:

RUR Architecture working files

Date:

1996-2014

Level of archival description:
Series

Extent and medium:

133 digital files (280 MB)

42 sketches, drawings and printed renderings

5 models

Scope and content:
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

Reference number:

AP177.S1

Arrangement:
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.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer:

Gift of RUR Architecture on 18 February 2014.

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