ST_AK_P r o j e c t s

PHOTOGRAPHY

GRAPHIC DESIGN

MASTERS THESIS

ARCHITECTURE

E X P E R I E N C E

PHOTOGRAPHY

HK_S

HK_C

HK_W

Bos_I

Bos_B

01-02

03-04

05-06

07-08

09-10

C O N T E N T S

B o s t o n _ I c o n s

B o s t o n _ B r i c k

H o n g K o n g _ W r i t i n g

H o n g K o n g _ S u r f a c e s

H o n g K o n g _ C h a r a c t e r

During my time as an architecture student, I began to explore the art of photography. First, it was a way to remember architectural marvels. Later on, photography became a source of inspiration for architectural proj-ects. It allowed me to relate them to existing conditions and characteristics of neighbor-hoods.

This chapter takes you through some of my early explorations of the city of Boston; capturing icons and characteristics that have shaped my experiences in the city. The last three collections were taken in Hong Kong, a city with so much to see, but observed in such little time.

PHOTOGRAPHY Bos_IBoston at Night

Due to the rigorous coursework during my first two years as an architecture student, I was usu-ally only able to experience the city at night. I fell in love with the city; I felt as if it was my own. I was able to walk or ride around and personally discover the personalities of my fa-vorite icons.

The Citgo Sign has been part of my life since I was a kid. It was always the most prominent icon when I would watch the Boston Red Sox on television or had the rare chance to see a game in person. As a college student, it still main-tained its stature. On walks from Cambridge at night, it was the beacon that would guide me back home. Now that I live in the Fenway area, I have never felt closer to this Boston icon.

City Hall generates a lot of diverse commen-tary. I agree with many people who say that the it is dirty and overbearing but, for those reasons, it may be the most appropriate gov-ernment building. The building was originally intended to float above the plaza, allowing the public to take part in the democratic process.The outcome was certainly the opposite in most opinions and has scared most people from even attempting to get near the entrance. Because of that irony, City Hall makes me smile.

The Prudential has always been a modest tower, which I have found to be most appro-priate for the Boston Skyline. In recent years, the incandescent lights that wrapped the top of the hub have been replaced with LED’s. Color changing lights have also been installed to light up the Pru for any number of occasions. The best display of their new capabilities was on Boston’s LGBT Pride Day, in which they lit up the hub with a breath-taking display of rotating rainbow colors.

B o s t o n _ I c o n s

T h e _ C i t g o _ S i g nN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 3 _ 6 ”B o s t o n _ K e n m o r e

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C i t y _ H a l lN i k k o r _ 1 8 - 5 5f / 2 2 _ 3 0 ”Boston_Gov ’ tCenter

T h e _ P r u d e n t i a lN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 1 3 _ 2 ”B o s t o n _ B a c k B a y

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PHOTOGRAPHY Bos_BB o s t o n _ B r i c k

R o o f s + C h i m n e y sN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 8 _ 1 / 2 0 0B o s t o n _ B a c k B a y

M i s s i o n _ C h u r c hN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 5 . 6 _ 1 / 2 0 0Boston_MissionHill

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ST_AK_Boston Brick

I have always known Boston for its brick build-ings; from the most economical buildings in Mission Hill to the extravegent residences in the Back Bay. While most cities pride themselves on their new technologies and innovative build-ing types, I think Boston takes the most pride in their historic neighborhoods and distinctive stone and brick buildings.

Roofs + Chimneys is a snap shot I took of the roof lines of a series of buildings in Boston’s Back Bay. This just gives the idea of the history and the personality that each of these individual houses hold, while still maintaining a consistent visual language.

Missions Chuch is another roof line photograph that captures the beauty within Boston’s old neighborhoods. The church was finished in 1878 and is one of the first Basilicas in the United States. Many people take this church for grant-ed because it is in the Mission Hill area, which is often considered an area to avoid.

Rapids Parking is a photo of an old parking lot sign near The TD Bank Garden. While the sign is clearly from the early 20th century, the owner of the lot still maintains its orginal character with this artifact.

R a p i d s _ P a r k i n gN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 2 2 _ 3 0 ”P h o t o s h o p _ E d i tB o s t o n _ N o r t h E n d

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PHOTOGRAPHY HK_SLayered Walls

Hong Kong is mostly known for its dense population and soaring skyscrapers.However, the most interesting detail is the layers of man-made materials that are worn down and weathered by the forces of nature. While most of Hong Kong’s buildings have only been on this earth for a little more than a decade, it is refreshing to see buildings with a bit of history behind them. Unfortunate-ly, many of these buildings have been on the verge of demolition in order to make way for new 50+ story high-rises. One building in par-ticular, The Blue House Cluster, stands strong in the wake of typical Hong Kong development with a community supporting its preservation.This building was just like any other Rowhouseor “Tong Lau”, as they are known as in Mandarin, until it was painted blue, giv-ing the whole neighborhood a new life. Plastered Brick , as well as Blue Window , was taken at The Blue House Cluster and exhibits the multitude of textures and materials that givethe building such a vibrant character.

Another area that is facing similar redevelop-ment is Wing Lee St. in Central Hong Kong. This street has a number of “Tong Lau” in which some have been redeveloped but most have been left to decay. Unfortunately, this area has not received as much community support as the Blue House Cluster. Yellow Wall, Molded Plaster, and Steel+Concrete are all examples of the surfaces that are found in the immediate neighborhood. The photographs are an attempt to physically flatten these surfaces as well as reveal them as the beautiful abstracted pieces of art and increasing their cultural depth.

H o n g K o n g _ S u r f a c e s

P l a s t e r e d _ B r i c kN i k k o r _ 1 8 - 5 5f / 4 _ 1 / 6 0B l u e _ H o u s e

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M o l d e d _ P l a s t e rN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 4 . 5 _ 1 / 8 0S h i n g _ W o n g _ S t .C h a i _ W a n

Y e l l o w _ W a l lN i k k o r _ 1 8 - 5 5f 5 . 6 _ 1 / 1 2 5S h i n g _ W o n g _ S t .C h a i _ W a n

B l u e _ W i n d o wN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 4 _ 1 / 6 0B l u e _ H o u s eC l u s t e r

S t e e l + C o n c r e t eN i k k o r _ 1 8 - 5 5f 1 . 3 _ 1 / 5 0 0S h i n g _ W o n g _ S t .C h a i _ W a n

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PHOTOGRAPHY HK_WWriting on the Walls

Many of the texturally rich surfaces were adorned with a variety of text. Some of this text was done in the form of graffiti, a way for some young adults to leave their mark on their stomping grounds. This added yet another layer of depth and character to the walls of the city.Run These Streets is a photoshop manipula-tion that brings an added layer of excite-ment to the idea of graffiti on these surfaces.

In a similar way, many buildings were marked to designate their functions. Black Text-White Wall and Blue Wall-Black Text are perfect examples of combining beauty and functionality. White Text-Red Wall suggests the many layers of text may have been on a single wall throughout its lifetime.To me the actual meaning of the text does not matter because it gives each building a sense of individuality as well as a unifying identity.

H o n g K o n g _ W r i t i n g

R u n _ T h e s e _ S t r e e t sPhotoshop_Col lageW a n _ C h a i

W h i t e _ T e x tR e d _ W a l lN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 4 _ 1 / 6 0B l u e _ H o u s e

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B l u e _ W a l lB l a c k _ T e x tN i k k o r _ 1 8 - 5 5f / 5 _ 1 / 1 0 0B l u e _ H o u s e

B l a c k _ T e x tW h i t e _ W a l lN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 4 . 2 _ 1 / 6 0B l u e _ H o u s e

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PHOTOGRAPHY HK_C

Hong Kong Density

One of the defining characteristics of Hong Kong is its extreme density. The architecture and signage display personal char-acteristics of businesses and homes. Many of the people here come from around the world, but collectively display a cultural act that is uniquely Hong Kong.

H o n g K o n g _ C h a r a c t e r

S t r e e t _ S h o p sN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 7 . 1 _ 1 / 2 0 0Hong_Kong_SideStreet

C i t y _ V a l l e yN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 8 _ 1 / 2 5 0Outside_StreetMarket

Residential_BuildingsN i k k o r _ 1 8 - 5 5f / 8 _ 1 / 2 5 0Mainland_HongKong

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R u s t e d _ F a nN i k k o r _ 1 8 - 5 5f / 3 . 5 _ 1 / 5 0W e t _ M a r k e t

B r a s s _ L a n t e r n sN i k k o r _ 1 8 - 5 5f / 5 . 6 _ 1 / 6 0 0N o H o _ C h a p e l

B u s _ D r i v e rN i k k o r _ 5 5 - 2 0 0f / 5 . 6 _ 1 / 2 5 0M T R _ M i n i B u s

Observations

Some of my other observations of the city included the smallest details, such as a RUSTED Fan with so much age and charac-ter in a wet market bathroom. While many things became decayed and worn over time, many of the relics within some of the tradi-tional Tao Chapels were pristine and bril-liantly maintained, as seen in the lines of brass lanterns throughout the interiors.

Other experiences were just entertaining and socially different than anything one might experience in the United States. While riding the MTR Mini Bus from a wet market in Kowloon to HKU, the bus driver seemed like any other man: no uniform, no badge. As I crammed on the bus - which seemed more like someone’s mini van - I held on for dear life as the driver whipped through the crowded Hong Kong streets. Fortunately I managed to snap a picture from the rear view mirror of his calm demeanor as he sped through the city.

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A b o u t _ M E

S t e p h e n _ A k e r b l o m

M _ A r c h _ G r a d u a t eW e n t w o r t h

1 1 4 _ R i v e r w a y _ A p t # 1 0B o s t o n , M A _ 0 2 1 1 57 7 4 - 2 4 0 - 4 9 6 4A k e r b l o m S @ w i t . e d u

I have recently graduated with my Masters of Architecture ‘13 (with Distinction) after receiving my Bachelor of Science in Architecture ‘12 (Cum Laude), both from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

I came into the field of architecture because I had always considered myself an artistwith attention to detail. While I would ultimately hope to become a registered Architect, I have found that the skills I have developed over the years have allowed me to become much more than that.

My education has trained me, not as an architect, but as a designer with the ability to take on any challenges. I have used these skills to develop myself as a Photographer, a Graphic Designer, an Architect, and a City Planner. I have taken on all these challenges with confidence and have been proud of all the outcomes.

As I begin on the path to a career, I am open to any new challenges and welcome opportunities to begin working in the fields of:

Architecture + PLanningArts + EntertainmentEducationCommunications

S t e p h e n _ A k e r b l o m

M _ A r c h _ G r a d u a t eW e n t w o r t h

1 1 4 _ R i v e r w a y _ A p t # 1 0B o s t o n , M A _ 0 2 1 1 57 7 4 - 2 4 0 - 4 9 6 4A k e r b l o m S @ w i t . e d u