        Connor, Emily : Assignmentsassignment 11/26- Street EssayEssay attachment: street essay.doc Picture attachment:    Building Construction The most important concept emphasized in Mr. Kangari’s presentation was integration. As a building construction major, one is taught along with many other important aspects of the job, leadership skills. In the job market a building construction major manages the many aspects of the construction process, integrating the many professions involved in the process to create a more smoothly run project. In other words, the goal is to create a new “master builder.” Integration is essential to advancing the construction industry. The fragmentation indicative of the current industry creates many problems that could easily be solved by a more communal effort. According to Mr. Kangari, increased integration could reduce costs for facility creation and renovation by up to 8%, reduce the time it took to take a project from conception to completion by up to 14%, reduce the cost of repairs by 5-15%, reduce a loss of knowledge between different sectors of the construction industry, and help make the entire process more efficient. Decommissioning - To withdraw (a ship, for example) from active service. (dictionary.com) In this case, the term seemed additionally to refer to the demolition of a building or the change in its use, for example a building at one time being used as a factory being renovated for residential use, though I may be mistaken in my interpretation. Integrated IT systems - the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware. ( The definition of IT is provided by Information Technology Association of America (ITAA)) IT systems assist with the goals of “Integrated, Automated Procurement and Supply Network,” “Intelligent and Automated Construction Job Site,” and “Intelligent Self-maintaining and Repairing Operational Facility” mentioned by Mr. Kangari. Procurement - to obtain or get by care, effort, or the use of special means. (dictionary.com) From the context in which the word was used (when discussing contractual relationships, etc.) I deemed that the word “procurement” meant “to obtain,” but second checking is never harmful. Part Three: What is a good balance between specialization or fragmentation of the various fields and integration? In other words, to be efficient is some specialization still needed or in order to create the desired holistic view, is a team of “renaissance men” needed? There seemed to be so much talk of a holistic approach, especially because Building Construction majors work towards being leaders to implement this holistic approach and to coordinate efforts, I am just worried that at some point, maybe in the far future, but still at some point, the pendulum is going to swing too far and everyone is going to be too interdependent and unable to make decisions for themselves and then the construction process will become inefficient because of too much discussion instead of too little. A finite balance needs to be found. Architecture “We shape our buildings, and then they shape us.” This quote by Winston Churchill was brought up in Mrs. Dunham-Jones’ lecture. She emphasized the importance of considering the many aspects in which a building can impact its environment. From emphasis on green technology to urban design, design schools are trying to prepare their students to create architecture that will interact with and add to their environment in a beneficial way instead of creating simple buildings that either detract from their surroundings or harm them. This includes considering how a building will interact with surrounding buildings, the surrounding city/town, the people inhabiting or using the building, and the societal ambitions and conditions of the place in which the building will reside. Social access to power- This term was mentioned when discussing the layout of Versailles. Derived from the lecture, the term refers to the representation of power through inhuman means, built or otherwise. For example, in the case of Versailles, the layout of the landscape follow the “all roads lead to Rome” principle, except in this case the angled axis all lead back to the king’s castle. Re-presenting- Strangely enough just a week or two ago, my entire English class focused on the difference between the word “representing” and the coined term “re-presenting.” Before that class I had never heard the term (it was used in an essay we had to read for class) and my English professor pointed out that this term was not actually a word and that he had not heard the coined term before reading the essay. So, I didn’t hear the word for the first time before the Architecture lesson, but rather I had heard it once before. I had, however, not thought of its applicability to things other than the way it was used in the English essay. According both to Mrs. Dunham Jones’ lecture and my English professor, re-presenting refers to the principle of taking a precedent, whether it be a building or a historical event( in the case of the essay) and presenting it to a new audience, possibly, but not necessarily, in a new manner, under a different light, or through a new filter. Nested hierarchies- Hierarchy-an organized body of officials in successive ranks or orders (dictionary.com). I would assume that nested hierarchies refers to a system in which the hierarchy is arranged in a non-linear manner, but rather much like a tree in which the top position manages a few people of lower position, who in turn manage a few more people, who in turn manage another few people, etc. Part Three: I think one of the major disciplinary/professional issues is how does an architect innovate and progress without overstepping their bounds? In other words, it is an architects job to do more than simply recreate and copy precedents, but at the same time, the architect must think about precedents, especially of the surrounding area, and how a new design will interact and hopefully add to these surroundings. At the same time, the architect must consider the future. What do we want for the future? How will this building interact with future generations? How will the industry and our desires as a society change in the future? While this includes much speculation on the part of the architect, this is a necessary factor of consideration in any design. For example, Green design is going to become more applicable as our global environment continues to deteriorate and our technological advances increase. Urban design is increasingly becoming more important as the world population increases and cities continue to grow. These factors of the future have to be meshed with the past and the architects own ambitions and desires, created a very complex basis for design. Industrial Design User centered design was a major topic of discussion in the lecture that was universally applicable. I found it very interesting when Mr. Mullick discussed the washing machine pictured in the presentation and how this one design was designed to best serve and be usable by both people seated in wheelchairs and someone standing. It seems so often that appliances are and either/or kind of deal and so to think that people both with physical disabilities and those without could use the same appliance and both to the same degree of effectiveness was both surprising and satisfying. interaction design - As derived from Mr. Mullick’s presentation, interaction design is a design concept that either requires or encourages human interaction with a product to receive the products full benefits. The example shown was a map that required human interaction in the form of pressing buttons in order to find the location on a greater map. induction cooking - cooking via the process by which a body having electric or magnetic properties produces magnetism, an electric charge, or an electromotive force in a neighboring body without contact (dictionary.com). I have heard induction before in chemistry in relation to heating methods, but unfortunately had the hardest time remembering the meaning of the word at that point and still do. anthropometrics - refers to the measurement of living human individuals for the purposes of understanding human physical variation. Today, anthropometry plays an important role in industrial design, clothing design, ergonomics, and architecture, where statistical data about the distribution of body dimensions in the population are used to optimize products. (Wikipedia.com “ anthropometrics”) When considering a design, professionals in the industrial design field must consider factors much the same as those an architect must consider such as user centered, community oriented, and environment related design as well as manufacture driven design. Product design is not solely what may be aesthetically pleasing, but functionality must be considered too. For example, Mr. Mullick talked about electronics design and how it is an Industrial Designers job to consider the outer skin of a product and the user interaction, but also how that designer has to have some knowledge of the internal structure too. They have to consider how the electronic components will fit into the outer shell to create an effective and user-friendly design. The Industrial design professional also has to consider ease of manufacturing, how a product will not only affect a single user, but possibly the surrounding community as well, and they have to consider such environmental factors as the waste produced during manufacturing and the disposal of a product after use. Bibliography Organized by Search Engine and Order in Which Results were Found: GIL Universal catalog, search word: hurricane Katrina Plumlee, Geoffrey S., “USGS environmental characterization of flood sediments left in the New Orleans area after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 2005 [electronic resource] : progress report / by Geoffrey S. Plumlee ... [et al.].” Reston, Va.: U.S. Geological Survey, 2006. http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS84848. United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection. “The commerce and consumer protection implications of Hurricane Katrina [electronic resource]: hearing before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, first session, September 22, 2005.” Washington: U.S. G.P.O.: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 2005. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_house_hearings&docid=f:24249.pdf. United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials. “Hurricane Katrina: assessing the present environmental status: hearing before the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, first session, September 29, 2005.” Washington: U.S. G.P.O.: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 2005. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_house_hearings&docid=f:24251.pdf. Ratard, Raoult. “Public health after Katrina’s rule.” Atlanta, Ga.: Rollins School of Public Health, c2006. http://www.sph.emory.edu/CPHPR/Triangle/Ratard/Start.htm. Wikipedia Search, search word: Hurricane Katrina “Hurricane Katrina.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Links from search results on Wikipedia of search word: Hurricane Katrina “Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_Hurricane_Katrina_on_New_Orleans. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Political Effects of Hurricane Katrina.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_effects_of_Hurricane_Katrina. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Economic effects of Hurricane Katrina.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_effects_of_Hurricane_Katrina. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Criticism of Government Response to Hurricane Katrina.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_effects_of_Hurricane_Katrina. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Avery Search/EBSCOhost, search word: Hurricane Katrina Kennedy, Shawn; Murdock, James. “Remaking New Orleans, without losing its past.” Architectural record v.195, n.6 (2007 June): 85-88, 226. http://web.ebscohost.com.www.library.gatech.edu: 2048/ehost/detail?vid=8&hid=107&sid=307ad253-56c3-4f94-b385-d44023abe3b3%40sessionmgr109. Olshansky, Robert B. Journal of the American Planning Association v.72, n.2 (2006 Spring): p.147-153. http://web.ebscohost.com.www.library.gatech.edu:2048/ehost/pdf?vid=7&hid=107&sid=307ad253-56c3-4f94-b385-d44023abe3b3%40sessionmgr109. Proquest, search word: Hurricane Katrina. Returned too many results, and results that were not applicable. Proquest, search word: Effects of Hurricane Katrina. Michael L Dolfman, Solidelle Fortier Wasser, Bruce Bergman. “The effects of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans economy.” Monthly Labor Review, 130(6) (2007, June): 3-18. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1329974571&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=6&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192131329&clientId=30287. “LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES RELEASES UPDATED REPORT ON EFFECTS OF HURRICANES KATRINA, RITA ON LOUISIANA'S COASTAL FISHERIES.” US Fed News Service, Including US State News (2007, May 15). http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=17&did=1271831411&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192123564&clientId=30287. Clinton A Vince, Paul E Nordstrom, Regina Y Speed-Bost. “Natural Gas & Electricity.” Hoboken Vol. 23, Iss. 8( Mar 2007): 1 http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=21&did=1228521931&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192131516&clientId=30287. Peter C Van Metre, Arthur J Horowitz, Barbara J Mahler, William T Foreman. “Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Chemistry of Bottom Sediments in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA.” Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 40, Iss. 22, (2006): 6894-6902. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=35&did=1193240121&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192131899&clientId=30287. Sharon P Brown, Sandra L Mason, Richard B Tiller. (2006, August). “The effect of Hurricane Katrina on employment and unemployment.” Monthly Labor Review, Vol. 129 Iss. 8 (August 2006): 52. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=49&did=1122147481&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192132271&clientId=30287. Rebecca A Clark, Lynn Besch, Mary Murphy, Jan Vick, et al. “Six months later: The effect of Hurricane Katrina on health care for persons living with HIV/ AIDS in New Orleans.” AIDS Care: Supplement 1, Vol. 18, Iss.6, (2006): 59. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=42&did=1202406911&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192132456&clientId=30287. LexisNexis, search word: Hurricane Katrina Fein, Geoff. ‘Katrina Showed Need For Rapid Damage Assessment, Improved Communications.” Defense Daily, Vol. 231, No. 16, (July 27, 2006). http://www.lexisnexis.com.www.library.gatech.edu:2048/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?risb=21_T2242525093&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T2242525098&cisb=22_T2242525097&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=156289&docNo=5. Cornwell, Rupert. In Katrina's wake Ayear ago, America's Gulf Coast suffered the worst storm of modern times. Rupert Cornwell recalls the aftermath of a tragedy.; HURRICANE KATRINA. The Independent, August 12, 2006, News, Final Edition. google search engine, search word: Hurricane Katrina “Beyond Katrina: The Voice of Hurricane Disaster and Recovery.” http://www.hurricane-katrina.org/. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Herman, Charles. ”Katrina's Economic Impact: One Year Later.” ABC News (august 25, 2006). http://abcnews.go.com/Business/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=2348619&page=1&Business=true. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “The Politics of Katrina.” ABC News (August 26, 2007). http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Katrina/story?id=3525382&page=1. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Response to 2005 Hurricanes: Dealing with Debris and Damaged Buildings.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/katrina/debris.html. (Accessed October 11, 2007). google search engine, searchword: hurricane katrina and asbestos Luther, Linda.”Disaster Debris Removal After Hurricane Katrina: Status and Associated Issues.” June 16, 2006. http://opencrs.cdt.org/rpts/RL33477_20060616.pdf. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Contamination Caused by Katrina.” Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center. http://www.maacenter.org/jobsites/katrina/contamination.php. (Accessed October 11, 2007). google search engine, search word: hurricane Katrina and microbes “Fecal Microbes High In New Orleans Sediments Following Hurricanes Katrina And Rita, According To Study.” Science Daily. May 4, 2007. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070503111503.htm. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Vince, Gaia. ”Gauging the health crisis in Katrina’s wake.” NewScientist.com news service. September 6, 2005. http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/hurricane/dn7959-gauging-the-health-crisis-in-katrinas-wake.html. (Accessed October 11, 2007). google search engine, search words: politics and hurricane Katrina Dawson, Michael; Lacewell, Melissa Harris; Cohen, Cathy. “2005 Racial Attitudes and the Katrina Disaster Study.” University of Chicago, Center for the Study of Race Politics and Culture, January, 2006. http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/06/images/katrina_report.doc. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Lips, Dan. “EDUCATION NOTEBOOK: Hurricane Katrina and Education Politics.” The heritage foundation: leadership for America. December 16, 2005. http://www.heritage.org/Research/Education/EdNotes15.cfm. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Race An Issue In Katrina Response: Lawmakers Voice Opinions On Role Of Skin Color In Rescue Efforts.” CBS News. September 3, 2005. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/03/katrina/main814623.shtml. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Bibliography Organized Alphabetically: “Beyond Katrina: The Voice of Hurricane Disaster and Recovery.” http://www.hurricane-katrina.org/. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Clinton A Vince, Paul E Nordstrom, Regina Y Speed-Bost. “Natural Gas & Electricity.” Hoboken Vol. 23, Iss. 8( Mar 2007): 1 http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=21&did=1228521931&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192131516&clientId=30287. “Contamination Caused by Katrina.” Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center. http://www.maacenter.org/jobsites/katrina/contamination.php. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Cornwell, Rupert. “In Katrina's wake Ayear ago, America's Gulf Coast suffered the worst storm of modern times. Rupert Cornwell recalls the aftermath of a tragedy.; HURRICANE KATRINA.” The Independent, August 12, 2006, News, Final Edition. “Criticism of Government Response to Hurricane Katrina.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_effects_of_Hurricane_Katrina. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Dawson, Michael; Lacewell, Melissa Harris; Cohen, Cathy. “2005 Racial Attitudes and the Katrina Disaster Study.” University of Chicago, Center for the Study of Race Politics and Culture, January, 2006. http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/06/images/katrina_report.doc. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Economic effects of Hurricane Katrina.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_effects_of_Hurricane_Katrina. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_Hurricane_Katrina_on_New_Orleans. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Fecal Microbes High In New Orleans Sediments Following Hurricanes Katrina And Rita, According To Study.” Science Daily. May 4, 2007. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070503111503.htm. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Fein, Geoff. “Katrina Showed Need For Rapid Damage Assessment, Improved Communications.” Defense Daily, Vol. 231, No. 16, (July 27, 2006). http://www.lexisnexis.com.www.library.gatech.edu:2048/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?risb=21_T2242525093&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T2242525098&cisb=22_T2242525097&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=156289&docNo=5. Herman, Charles. ”Katrina's Economic Impact: One Year Later.” ABC News (August 25, 2006). http://abcnews.go.com/Business/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=2348619&page=1&Business=true. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Hurricane Katrina.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Kennedy, Shawn; Murdock, James. “Remaking New Orleans, without losing its past.” Architectural record v.195, n.6 (2007 June): 85-88, 226. http://web.ebscohost.com.www.library.gatech.edu:2048/ehost/detail?vid=8&hid=107&sid=307ad253-56c3-4f94-b385-d44023abe3b3%40sessionmgr109. Lips, Dan. “EDUCATION NOTEBOOK: Hurricane Katrina and Education Politics.” The heritage foundation: leadership for America. December 16, 2005. http://www.heritage.org/Research/Education/EdNotes15.cfm. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES RELEASES UPDATED REPORT ON EFFECTS OF HURRICANES KATRINA, RITA ON LOUISIANA'S COASTAL FISHERIES.” US Fed News Service, Including US State News (2007, May 15). http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=17&did=1271831411&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192123564&clientId=30287. Luther, Linda.”Disaster Debris Removal After Hurricane Katrina: Status and Associated Issues.” June 16, 2006. http://opencrs.cdt.org/rpts/RL33477_20060616.pdf. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Michael L Dolfman, Solidelle Fortier Wasser, Bruce Bergman. “The effects of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans economy.” Monthly Labor Review, 130(6) (2007, June): 3-18. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1329974571&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=6&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192131329&clientId=30287. Olshansky, Robert B. Journal of the American Planning Association v.72, n.2 (2006 Spring): p.147-153. http://web.ebscohost.com.www.library.gatech.edu:2048/ehost/pdf?vid=7&hid=107&sid=307ad253-56c3-4f94-b385-d44023abe3b3%40sessionmgr109. Peter C Van Metre, Arthur J Horowitz, Barbara J Mahler, William T Foreman. “Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Chemistry of Bottom Sediments in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA.” Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 40, Iss. 22, (2006): 6894-6902. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=35&did=1193240121&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192131899&clientId=30287. Plumlee, Geoffrey S., “USGS environmental characterization of flood sediments left in the New Orleans area after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 2005: progress report / by Geoffrey S. Plumlee ... [et al.].” Reston, Va.: U.S. Geological Survey, 2006. http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS84848. “Political Effects of Hurricane Katrina.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_effects_of_Hurricane_Katrina. (Accessed October 11, 2007). “Race An Issue In Katrina Response: Lawmakers Voice Opinions On Role Of Skin Color In Rescue Efforts.” CBS News. September 3, 2005. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/03/katrina/main814623.shtml. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Ratard, Raoult. “Public health after Katrina’s rule.” Atlanta, Ga.: Rollins School of Public Health, c2006. http://www.sph.emory.edu/CPHPR/Triangle/Ratard/Start.htm. Rebecca A Clark, Lynn Besch, Mary Murphy, Jan Vick, et al. “Six months later: The effect of Hurricane Katrina on health care for persons living with HIV/ AIDS in New Orleans.” AIDS Care: Supplement 1, Vol. 18, Iss.6, (2006): 59. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=42&did=1202406911&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192132456&clientId=30287. “Response to 2005 Hurricanes: Dealing with Debris and Damaged Buildings.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/katrina/debris.html. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Sharon P Brown, Sandra L Mason, Richard B Tiller. (2006, August). “The effect of Hurricane Katrina on employment and unemployment.” Monthly Labor Review, Vol. 129 Iss. 8 (August 2006): 52. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=49&did=1122147481&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192132271&clientId=30287. “The Politics of Katrina.” ABC News (August 26, 2007). http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Katrina/story?id=3525382&page=1. (Accessed October 11, 2007). United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection. “The commerce and consumer protection implications of Hurricane Katrina [electronic resource]: hearing before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, first session, September 22, 2005.”Washington: U.S. G.P.O.: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 2005. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_house_hearings&docid=f:24249.pdf. United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials. “Hurricane Katrina: assessing the present environmental status: hearing before the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, first session, September 29, 2005.” Washington: U.S. G.P.O.: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 2005. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_house_hearings&docid=f:24251.pdf. Vince, Gaia. ”Gauging the health crisis in Katrina’s wake.” NewScientist.com news service. September 6, 2005. http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/hurricane/dn7959-gauging-the-health-crisis-in-katrinas-wake.html. (Accessed October 11, 2007). Architecture, Culture, and Behavior According to Winston Churchill, “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” The AEC lecture discussed the importance of all aspects of design in the usability and appeal of a space. Mr. Zimring demonstrated this concept by showing statistical data proving that both in the healthcare world and when considering physical fitness, design of the space determines the activities that occur in that space. Key concepts/terms include aesthetics, comfort, safety, availability, convenience, legibility, intentional physical activity, incidental physical activity, and hybrid physical activity. aesthetics- The study of psychological aspects of beauty, especially with the components thereof as they relate to appearance (dictionary.com). Mr. Zimring discussed that the more aesthetically pleasing a space was, the more it was used. For example, when staircases are painted well and art is hung, stair usage increases. safety-freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss (dictionary.com). The safer a user feels in a space the more likely they will be to use it. For example, if a staircase is secluded, away from normal traffic, or darkly lit, or too steep, the user is more likely to feel insecure and, thus, less likely to utilize the stair case. convenience- easy to obtain, use, or reach (dictionary.com). Convenience also plays a major role in place usability. For example, if a staircase is located on the back side of a building and an elevator greets people as they walk through the door, they will be much more likely to use the elevator than the stairs. However, if the exact opposite is true and the staircase is more visible and thus seemingly more convenient, people will be more likely to take the stairs instead of walking around to the elevator. Pedagogical: Should students of the design majors be required to take research-based classes so that they must understand the importance and benefits of research in the design of a space of object? Disciplines: Is research of a similar type useful in the industrial design discipline as it is in that of architecture? Professions: How often is this type of research (research of spatial consequences on human activity) used in professional offices? Is research mainly utilized in the design of a particular type of building? Industry: Might the idea that research can be so beneficial to the design-build environment help to foster cooperative relationships between all of the different sectors of the industry? Photography Photography can prove to be a successful and useful medium not only of documentation, but also investigation. Mrs. Dusseault demonstrated this idea in her lecture by showing us, through photographs, the journey she took and explaining to us her revelations, that no one man should have the power to create an entire city of his own accord, that with the move towards urbanism and the replacement of “nature’s cycles” with the “industrial clock,” we begin to lose our personal identities, fueled by her careful analysis through this personal “art” form. Some key terms/ concepts include vernacular, progress, industrial form, macro engineering, and environmental remediation. vernacular - native or indigenous; a style of architecture exemplifying the commonest techniques, decorative features, and materials of a particular historical period, region, or group of people (dictionary.com). Vernacular in the sense of Mrs. Dusseault’s lecture refers to the façade of the shopping district of Atlantic Station that recalls the design of the old mill buildings in order to preserve some cultural and historic integrity. progress - the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level (dictionary.com). This definition proves slightly problematic according to Mrs. Dusseault’s lecture. While she does not disagree with the many benefits that progress provides a society, she points out everything lost with progress: a feeling of roots, a sense of identity, individuality, and a loss of authenticity. macro engineering - the implementation of extremely large-scale design projects (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macro-engineering). This refers to the one-man designed cities of Mrs. Dusseault’s lecture. While having one designer may lead to a more continuitous enviornment which some may find appealing, Mrs. Dusseault seemed to believe that this, understandably, leads to an environment of uninteresting homogenity. Pedagogy: In the common first year, drawing is taught as the primary method of exploration and expression, should this education be supplemented with exercises focusing on photography? What would be the benefits of this? Disciplines: By it’s nature can photography provide an unbiased view or because there is an artist behind this seemingly accurate method of collecting data, is the applicability of photography always going to be subjective? Professions: Photography is often used as a method of documentation in the professional world and as a method of presenting work to potential buyers, but how often is photography used as a method of exploration? Can computer generated “three-dimensional” models count as an interactive, artificially generated form of photography? Industry: Does photography help to bridge the communication divide among professionals of the AEC industry? The Appeal of Palladio Palladio was a master of architecture who utilized classical design elements in his buildings along with the classical concept of harmonious proportions and has influenced subsequent Architecture arguably more than any other single architect. Mr. Bafna demonstrated this fascination with and applicability of Palladio’s work by showing the numerous studies done by others and its influence over such famous architecture as Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Some key concepts/terms include ratios, classical roman style, revival, columns, continuity, and elevations. elevations - A scale drawing of the side, front, or rear of a structure (dictionary.com). Elevations, though still widely used in the field of architecture today as a method of visualization prior to the start of construction, were highly useful in the time period that Palladio worked. With little standardization and few other means of articulating the façade of a building, elevations were used as the primary method of conceptualizing the final building before construction. harmony of proportions/ratios - The appropriate scaled relationship of the various elements of a structure. This concept is what is assumed to make Palladio’s buildings so awe-inspiring. Many have studied the pattern of ratios found in Palladio’s buildings and have discovered that he uses the ratios 2:1, 3:2, 4:3 consistently. classical roman style - classical architecture derived from the style in which temples of the Roman Empire were built and most recognizable by the use of columns and capitals characteristic of the style. This style of architecture is what much of Palladio’s design elements are derived from. He was one of the first architects to utilize roman temple design in residential buildings, in fact only two examples of buildings derived from roman temple design existed before him. Pedagogy: Do classical design students study Palladio in detail? Should all architecture disciplines, including such diverse forms as modern architecture students? Disciplines: Does Palladio’s work have applicability in design fields other than Architecture? For example, maybe the harmony of proportions? Professions: How much Palladian revival/ imitation is still occurring today? Is it really possible to tell whom classical architects are influenced by: Palladio or Ancient Roman architects? In other words, how much does Palladio’s style differ from classical Roman architecture? Industry: While Palladio’s work/classical design influences architects greatly, is there anything that the other disciplines of the AEC industry can be taught by these examples? Are there some structural benefits? How about helpful construction techniques? Disability Research In design, collaboration is key to success, especially collaboration between different fields of study and disciplines. In the end, it does not matter what one’s degree background is, but what one’s expertise and interests are. Mr. Sprigle demonstrated these concepts by showing all the factors that can hinder a disabled person’s everyday activities- environmental barriers, functional barriers, accessibility issues, etc.- and how different disciplines (industrial design, architecture, educational technology, web design, and engineering to name a few) can corroborate to alleviate or at least lessen the impact of some of these issues. Some of the terms and concepts mentioned in the presentation were resilience, durability, miniaturization, ambulation, assistive technology, anthropometry, accessible environments, environmental barriers, and functional barriers. anthropometry - The study of human measurements and proportions especially for anthropological classification. This field originally tried to use body measurements to classify humans into racial, ethnic, and national groups, though this has now largely been discredited. However, this field has relevance to other fields, such as disability design and research. For example, the offloading wheelchair cushion used anthropometry-based layout to offload weight from those areas where a majority of weight resides when sitting and thus help reduce the likelihood of pressure ulcers. assistive technology - a generic tern including assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices and the process of selecting, locating, and using these devices. Assistive technology can include universal assistive technology, such as electric can openers, padded handle utensils, wheelchair ramps, etc. that appeal to the general population regardless of disability, and specialized assistive technology, such as wheelchairs, artificial limbs, etc. that appeal only to those with specific disabilities and prove useless for the general population. In designing for those with disabilities, often products are developed that add convenience or comfort to the lives of the general population. In other words, through design for specific disabilities, often product design becomes better thought out and thus better design in general. environmental barriers - barriers in one’s surroundings that hinder ones performance. Environmental barriers could include such natural barriers as hills or man made barriers such as steps that would hinder a person with mobility problems. Environmental barriers can also include hills or such that will slow a runner and thus affect their performance. Environmental barriers play a large part in a disabled person’s life. If they can’t get into a store because of a mobility disorder and the only access is via stairs, then they will be much more inconvenienced than the general person. Therefore, the elimination of environmental barriers plays a large part in disability design. Pedagogy: Should design students be required to take at least one class before graduation focusing specifically on design for disabled persons so that they may better consider the ramifications of every decision they make when designing a product or space? Disciplines: Although there are already codes in place to protect accessibility to public spaces, should more codes be put in place by governing bodies to ease usability of private homes by disabled persons? Professions: Would designing the built environment for disabled persons actually improve design for the general population too, much like it has in product design? Industry: Would increased collaboration between different disciplines aid designers in creating more usable spaces for everyone, disabled and not disabled alike? AEC Integration This presentation, more so than the presentation on 9.10, stressed the importance of collaboration. With collaboration, the AEC industry could become more efficient, thus yielding a better, quicker product and happier clients. Mr. Bowen demonstrated the need for collaboration by listing the 10 characteristics of the AEC industry currently, all of which are negatives, the historical roots of the industry, thus demonstrating where the problems arose, and the barriers to integration. Some terms/ concepts Mr. Bowen included were fragmentation lean construction, turnkey, supply chains, total team concept, extended enterprise, alliance contracting, risk management, value engineering, and specialization. fragmentation - the separation of some larger whole into smaller particles. In the AEC industry, this refers to the separation of the different fields that make up the industry, including the different fields of engineering, the architects or designers, and construction personnel. According to Mr. Bowen, this is the biggest problem with the AEC industry. There is little to no collaboration and thus efficiency is severely affected. specialization - a specific line of work one has adapted as their career; to restrict to specific limits. Over time, especially in the AEC industry, jobs have become specialized, leading to increased animosity between the fields and thus increased fragmentation. Over time, the “renaissance man” has become a thing of the past. lean construction - the collaboration of owners, designers, general and specialty contractors, and suppliers in order to produce a value adding, constructible, usable, and maintainable facility (Lean Construction Journal). In other words, lean construction focuses on the collaboration of the different fields of the AEC Industry in order to create a better and more efficiently built product. From what I could gather this is the direction Mr. Bowen hopes the AEC Industry to move. Pedagogy: Should joint education between majors go beyond the first year? Should more collaboration be inspired with increased numbers of group projects or endeavors? Should more classes be offered like that of the CADCAM class that requires group collaboration for the entirety of the class? Disciplines: Are those few firms who have begun moving towards lean construction doing better economically than their counterparts? Could they become advisors, showing other companies the best way to consolidate and become more efficient? Professions: Would integration of the AEC industry lead to better job security? Industry: Would consolidating the licensing bodies spur immediate consolidation of the subsequent fields in the industry? Graphic Information Systems Technology has improved product production and efficiency in many fields and now technology has been created that will aid and improve the built environment. Mr. French demonstrated the many ways in which GIS technology has already improved the built environment through examples of land suitability maps, photo-interpreted land use, land cover, urban sprawl/ population density maps, impervious surface images, and that this technology can help model the effects of natural disasters. Some terms/concepts mentioned in the presentation include impervious surface, urban heat, hazard exposure, traffic congestion, land suitability, photo- interpreted land use, land cover, urban sprawl, ubiquitous data, automated data acquisition, enterprise collaboration, and remote sensing. impervious surface - usually constructed surfaces (rooftops, roads, etc.) that are constructed of impenetrable materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, and stone. Impervious surfaces become of interest when worrying about things such as water run off and absorption, or, in the case of the presentation, impenetrable surfaces can absorb heat adding to global warming. In the presentation GIS technology was used to analyze data in conjunction with NASA on the effects of certain impervious materials on heat absorption. automated data acquisition - data that is downloaded in real time without the instruction or input of humans. This method of data collecting comes into play when one wants to collect continuous data. For example, weather service reporting most likely uses some form of automated data acquisition, as would Mr. Sprigle from the presentation on 9-10 when collecting the data on wheelchair usage. remote sensing - the science, technique, or process of gathering data on an object or area from a considerable distance, using technology such as radar or infrared technology. Remote sensing allows researchers to gather information from all over the world at concurrent times without having to place personnel in that area. Thus, the technology of remote sensing has made data collection more feasible, more cost effective, and more efficient. Pedagogy: Should design students be given assignments that force them to utilize GIS technology so that when they hit the job market they can lead the way in GIS integration into the greater design field? Disciplinary: Will GIS technology help with the incorporation of more “green” technology in everyday construction (like more information on impervious surfaces so that they may not impact the environment as much)? Professional: How will GIS technology affect the jobs of urban planners, architects, and construction personnel in the future? Industry: Will GIS allow for better construction/design techniques based off of local resources and land use issues? Classical Design While classical design is undoubtedly a style all its own, its applicability in today’s environment focuses more on proper proportions than any stylistic guidelines. These proper proportions are demonstrated in the presentations by showing recently designed classical elements, improperly proportioned non-classical designs, and through before and after pictures of buildings that have incorporated classical elements. Proper proportions were the most important concept of this presentation. Other important terms included classical design, traditional design, and new urbanism. Two important examples of classical concepts were the Capitoline in Rome, Italy and the Katrina Home. Traditional versus Classical Architecture- Classical Architecture is a style of architecture derived specifically from the designs of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece, whereas, Traditional Architecture is a knowledge base of successful strategies of previous architecture not specific to any time or place, but rather accumulated over time from our successors. New Urbanism- New Urbanism is an American movement begun in the 1970s to restore traditional communities and create walkable, functional, sustainable, human-scale communities. If so many current designs are so badly out of proportion, what are schools not teaching their students to correct this problem and how could this be remedied? Schools could emphasize the benefits and the need to reference past designs, even for contemporary designs. These past designs could inspire a new take on old elements and prove beneficial to creativity versus a hindrance. What could be done to bring classical design and elements into buildings utilized by the average consumer? Pressure could be put on manufacturers by professionals of the design and built environment to create simplistic classical elements that could be used in a moderately priced design and then further embellished to meet the consumer’s price range. Especially in today’s market where “vintage” is popular, manufacturers would only stand to make more money by bending to the current trends. What could be done to regulate proper proportions in buildings? Although I doubt that much could be done to those architects who have already completed the licensing process, the Architect licensing board could either require potential architects to take a course strictly geared towards teaching appropriate proportions before sitting for the exam, or they could simply test for knowledge on proper proportions, thus excluding anyone who did not have a basic knowledge of appropriate proportions from becoming a licensed architect. Solar Decathlon In an ever growing demand as a global economy to reduce dependence on un-renewable resources and to develop more environmentally friendly lifestyles, the Solar Decathlon decides to step further into these desires by promoting entirely self-sustainable design without sacrificing daily comforts. By showing the thought and design process, the presenter demonstrated that through hard work a residence can be designed that is both livable and sustainable. Important terms and ideas discussed in the presentation include photovoltaics, grey water, sustainability, thermal bridging, coordination with manufacturers, airflow, lighting, thermal protection, digitally fabricated components, functionality, structural integrity, constructability, and mechanical operability. Photovoltaics- Photovoltaics is a technology that allows for electricity to be made from energy collected from the sun’s rays that has little adverse impact on the environment. Panels coated in photovoltaic cells often harness the sun’s energy. These panels are most commonly known as solar panels. Grey Water- Grey water is wastewater, currently composing 50-80% of residential wastewater, that is non-potable, but also non-toxic that has been generated from domestic processes (dish-washing, laundry, bathing). In a time where the environmental future is of the utmost concern, how can the importance of sustainability in the built environment be stressed to future professionals? Although everyone may not have the opportunity to research, design, and then build a self-sustainable residence, sustainability can be a topic of discussion in every-day studio classes. Professors can make their students think about aesthetics versus cost versus sustainability. Is this amount of windows really necessary? While it brings in natural sunlight during the day, it will also bring in natural heat. Do the benefits of the natural light outweigh the problems created by the extra heat? Is this cost effective? How about energy effective? Etc. Although the U.S. Department of Energy, the organizers of the Solar Decathlon, is stressing the importance of new energy sources, in this economically driven world, are power companies going to try and hinder the progress? It is possible that they would try to at least slow progress to avoid profit loss, and while this will cause a decrease in certain jobs- mining of fossil fuels and their processing, this will open up countless other jobs in the manufacturing and design of solar panels and the systems that will transfer the sun’s energy into usable electricity. These companies should view this movement as a shift in the job market not a drop in it. They could reconfigure their plants to utilize solar energy, and thus the only real change would be select employs would have to learn new skill sets. Eventually will these solar panels be aesthetically pleasing enough that architects will be able to incorporate them into the design of residences that will appeal to the general consumer, a consumer who may not necessarily like modern housing? When searching Photovoltaics, I found a picture caption that talked of traditional appearing roof shingles that had been coated in photovoltaic cells. How much power these could generate I do not know; however, by transforming traditional shingles, this technology would appeal more to the average consumer, thus making the technology more applicable to today’s economic environment. CADCAM With the new technology of computer aided drafting and modeling and computer aided manufacturing, the design process has evolved from a linear process to an iterative process, allowing the designer to create the intended design and fulfill other desires whether these desires include waste concerns or increased human interactivity. By showing the different projects, discussing the objectives of each, and discussing how either computer aided drafting or computer aided manufacturing aided in the design process and/or the building process, the presenter demonstrated that computer aided drafting and manufacturing can be useful and even vital tools. Some terms/ideas discussed in the presentation included: fabrication, renderings, prototyping, product versus waste, master builder, and modular design. Fabrication- Fabrication refers to the process of building structures by cutting, shaping, and assembling various components made from raw materials. Product versus Waste- Product versus waste refers to the idea of limiting the waste produced from the manufacturing of a product. For example, the ‘patterns and profiles’ project utilized individual modular pieces that could be rearranged and used to create numerous designs versus individual molds for every piece so as to minimize waste. The technology to prototype has been around as long as the ability to manufacture products, so why is this technology just now becoming an integral part of the design process? Possibly, before recent times, the benefits of prototyping were not realized, or at least not to the same extent. Today, design is trying to push more boundaries than in the past, straying from the traditional four walls and a roof design or simply a round teapot, and thus, prototyping has started playing a viable role in determining structural integrity. Has this technology really changed potential client base? In other words, has this technology made custom design more affordable to the average consumer? I would venture to guess that this technology has made custom design more affordable to the average consumer. Not only can material choices be worked out better in advance, but designers can also find ways to minimize waste, and thus cost, and to work out any potential problems before construction starts. Not only has this made the lives of designers easier, and allowed for the implication of possibly more complicated designs, but it would seem to me that it allows for more planning for better allotment of resources prior to construction or manufacturing. Has this new technology added to or detracted from the design learning process? While I could see that this technology may hinder the young designers ability to visualize design, and thus possibly detract from their effectiveness as a designer, it will help those truly visionary students communicate their ideas to others. Thus, in the end, this technology may reduce the skill set of mediocre designers, for those truly gifted designers, those that will shape the world of tomorrow, this is just one more tool to help them on their long and hopefully fruitful journeys. Installation 1- Atrium Installation – The Waterfall Bench This 3 story, made of plywood, installation functions as a bench. However, the structure’s complexity and sheer size make this much more than a simple bench. Against the backdrop of the cold concrete atrium, this installation functions to bring warmth and visual appeal. Starting from the base of the installation, the wood panels appear to effortlessly curve into a seat and then mesh with the straight back of the artifact. From the single plywood sheet wide void in the bench every three sheets of plywood, the installation grows, reaching far up towards the ceiling of the atrium. The remainder of the height of the first floor is dominated by calculated bends of the plywood sheeting to create elongated pointed elliptical gaps. These gaps are primarily created with threaded metal rods, spacers, and nuts at either end of the rod. There also seems to be some bending of the material on the first story of the plywood structure that appears unintentional, perhaps the result of warping caused by moisture at some time or heat causing the wood to expand. As the structure moves past the second floor railing, the structure begins to wave. The first wave is uneven, starting lower on the left side of the installation (with respect to a front view) and then gradually working its way upward as the wave travels to the right. This not only serves as visual appeal, but all serves to bridge the change from the second floor landing to the third, which is set farther away from the atrium’s center than the second floor landing. As the installation travels upwards past the third floor railing a second, but this time even, wave occurs. The structure then appears to redouble on itself, mimicking the wave and the bench that “started” the installation, creating a full circle finality to the artifact. The installation does not reach the ceiling of the atrium, but rather stops mid-way between the third story landing and the ceiling, reinforcing that it is a separate artifact from the building and should not be confused, necessarily, with being a part of the building. The second “bench” that comes to rest on the third floor landing, cannot function as a seating area like it’s counterpart. The “bench’s” depth slants from greater on the left to a shallower depth on the right (with respect to a rear view). In addition the bench is far too shallow even at its deepest part (on the far left) and far too near the ground. This bench also follows the greater part of the installation in that it has gaps of 3 plywood thickness between every piece of plywood, making for a very “bony” seat if anyone were to try and sit. The installation is attached at the railing of each landing with large brackets that utilize the design of the encompassing building’s walls. The brackets hug the wall on the landing side with straight, flat metal bars, and on the corrugated side, with bars that fit into adjacent groves. Width wise, the installation is held together by lengths of threaded rods, spacers, and nuts, like described before. The designers staggered these rods, with only a few running the full length of the structure. By having very few rods running the length of the structure, the view is not disturbed as much and the integrity of the piece is better preserved. The plywood boards are connected lengthwise with corresponding triangular slats held together with metal brackets. The transition from one board to another board appears smooth from a reasonable distance and thus is not a detractor from the overall design of the piece. The effect of the bench part of the installation being so “heavy” in relation to the rest of the corresponding structure is the installation works well with the light. On the bottom story, where natural light is less prevalent, the installation is heavy, and as one moves up the structure, the light increases, shining through the slats, and highlighting the unexpected transparency of the installation. I really appreciate the way in which this installation interacts with the light and space around it. To me, Antoni Gaudi was a mastermind at designing his buildings to harness the best aspects of nature. I equate the way in which the structure seems to become lighter with the increasing strength of light to a reverse strategy of Gaudi’s smaller windows towards the top of a building where the light is most intense and windows increasing in size as the light looses intensity the farther to the ground one travels. Both party’s strategies play with the light in different manners, but both parties successfully accomplish their objectives. The structure is also almost playful in its interactions with its environment. From far away, looking directly at the installation, one can see through the slats of the installation to the surroundings behind, however, this view is slightly distorted, much like that of a criminal’s face when they put sheer hose over their face to distort the features. The structure doesn’t bend the light differently, but rather allows the imagination to fill in the gaps in the scene left by the presence of the slats in the view. Another phenomenon entirely occurs with proximity to the installation. When looking through the structure from directly behind it, for example, there is only a limited space through which one can see. As the view moves towards the periphery, more and more of the surroundings are obscured by the relative angle change of the slats. Installation 2- Terrace Installation- Nemo’s (from the hit movie “Finding Nemo”) Trap of Death On the terrace of the West Architecture building lays a polycarbonate installation that grows from a fairly compacted point up and out weaving it’s way around the building, much like a vine. As the surrounding building shrinks back, the installation grows to fill the void. The Installation appears to receive very little support from outside sources. Cables support the structure on the left of the artifact (with respect to a view in which the building lies in the back ground), though many of these cables have snapped from wear, tear, and stress over time. The far left side of the artifact rests on a beam of the building, but from the ground no mechanical connections can be seen. The final point of support is on the far right of the structure, where the material is compact with no gaps, unlike the rest of the structure. From here the structure grows, some of the material still resting against the ground to support a portion of the weight. The chosen material, a clear polycarbonate, and the impression of little support to the installation, give the structure a seemingly precarious feeling. The structure has a taller height than it’s footprint at any given point for the most part, especially as it wraps around the first column, giving the viewer standing near it a sense of unease, as if the artifact could topple at any moment. Both because of its position as the bottom of the piece and its relative weight, the installation appears to begin at the far right where the installation is most compacted. However, even from here a pattern of vacillation is started that proves to be a dominant theme throughout the rest of the artifact. Though no air spaces are left, pieces of polycarbonate sandwich stacks of polycarbonate with a smaller, more “waved” footprint. From here, the installation expands. The “boxed” sections created (air spaces encompassed on all four sides by polycarbonate) begin to vacillate up and down, unlike the first section, as well as back to front. Twelve boxed sections going from the ground upwards dominate this second section of the artifact, but are only one boxed section in width. Just past the column, these12 sections separate, creating boxed sections that still stand 12 sections tall, but now also lay 3 sections wide. This change in structure occurs in order to create a smoother transition to the next area of the installation. These first 3 areas of the installation have a very defined form. Because of the way in which the plastic is oriented and braced, the plastic stands rigid. This rigidity is mirrored in the sheer number of nuts and bolts used to hold the plastic pieces together. The edges of the plastic pieces along these areas are dotted with connectors, giving the structure a utilitarian, military-like look and feel. From here, the form and feel of the installation change dramatically. The structure branches out into intertwining elliptical patterns. The boxed sections are abandoned and the structure is created by single sheets of polycarbonate, giving this area of the artifact a much more airy and thus whimsical feel. This portion of the installation also balloons slightly, becoming reminiscent of a fisherman’s net flowing through water and gathering fish. This net like area begins to converge again as it approaches the terrace beam and the end of the installation. Here the installation becomes wider than it is tall, as the net like shape merges to create 6 peaks with four sheets of polycarbonate side by side, forming each peak. In the net like area of the structure the polycarbonate has more give to it than could be felt in the previous areas of the structure. This flexibility was slightly surprising to me due to the more common uses of polycarbonate as shatterproof windows and eyeglass material. However, even the materials qualities seem to mimic the design. As the design moves from a more definite structure to more whimsical and flowy, the material’s properties of flexibility and thus fluidity are revealed. The installation playfully changes the light around it. The light bounces off the structure highlighting the apexes of the waves and casting the valleys of the structure into shadow. Perhaps more interestingly though, when images are viewed through the structure, they are highly distorted, demonstrating the usefulness of this material in eyeglasses. As light passes through the plastic, depending on the bend of the plastic at any given point, the light is refracted and bent, distorting images and adding to the feeling of whimsy the installation already lends. Over all, the structure seems to contrast highly with the background building. The installation as a whole has an ethereal feel due not only to the over-all design and flow of the installation but also the translucency of the chosen material. On the other hand, the building is constructed with blocks of visually heavy concrete, broken up only slightly by darkly tinted glass. While the essence of the building and the installation contrast greatly, the designers tied the two together nicely not only by literally wrapping the installation around the building, but also, by mirroring the utilitarian feel of the building in the simple material choices of polycarbonate (which mirrors the prevalent glass of the building) and the exposed metal nuts and bolts (which mirrors the heavier elements of the building such as the concrete and metal window frames). street essay 3.psd Link to this Page
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