        McCants, Katy : AssignmentsAssignment 11/26/07Cudda Wudda Shudda: An Essay on Fifth Street Fifth Street has become a focal point for both Atlanta and Georgia Tech alike in their development of urban life. The area from the Biltmore Hotel to the Klaus Building has been completely renovated over the past five years to make the connection between downtown Atlanta and Georgia Tech a safer, more inviting area. In turn, it has also created more space for Georgia Tech to expand, businesses to establish, and pedestrians to stroll without the typical hustle and bustle of Atlanta traffic. Renovation of such a vital street may seem simple enough, but through exploration, research, or just simple observation, one can plainly see that the work that has been done over the past five years and that still continues today is not a simple process. Roads, sidewalks, buildings, technology, lighting, green space, design, history, public health and safety, materials, and services are some of the many aspects of street life that a project like Fifth Street has to take into account. All of these aspects must then be used to construct a street that is successful as a public space, historically sound, innovative, functional, socially adapted, and most importantly, interactive with its citizens. Developers, contractors, and architects have successfully combined all of the filters that constitute a “good street” and made Fifth Street one of the most successful projects in the area. One of the most important views of the street is the fact that they are public areas and require special attention to paid accordingly. In “Introduction: Traffic in Democracy,” Michael Sorkin insists that “We judge the good city by the quality of its public life and hence of its public space” (Sorkin 4). In the past, private streets served to be at the convenience of the owner, and therefore hindered the use of the street as a convenient public access. Eventually most private streets were re-designated to serve as public roads for the public population. Public streets are important to the general population because they are convenient, but they also a cultural identity for some areas. For example, in Islam the people are generally more reserved, so naturally, the architecture is designed to fit the needs of the people. Most streets are publicly owned but have inward-turned courtyards that serve as boundary walls to the public streets. This design makes the streets seem much more private and introverted—thereby exemplifying the design reflecting the culture. Oppositely, in ancient Rome, apartment houses along the street were designed with large windows and balconies that seemed to invite the public into the already constricted space. Fifth Street reflects the personality of Atlanta urban life, but must be carefully monitored to ensure balance and safety. Sorkin also asserts the ongoing battle of the driver vs. the pedestrian. For example, in the problem of energy within the city, a frequent driver might insist that cars need energy to run more efficiently, so roads should be engineered to fit the cars’ needs. A planner with pedestrians’ needs in mind might exert that pedestrians use zero energy, and the street must be planned to benefit them. What urban cities have done in the past but must continue to do is find a balance between the needs of drivers and pedestrians in the private and (more importantly) public realms. As a public realm, a street must consider the needs of all the people that occupy the area. With disasters, epidemics, and cultural change public health and safety started to become a concern for most societies with streets. From A.D. 64 when new ordinances and laws were passed to ensure the health and safety of all citizens to the present when health and safety is the number one concern, builders and designers have had to comply with the laws set for the public’s best interest. For instance, the roads must be wide enough to prevent vehicular congestion and ensure a safe, quick ride for drivers, but they must narrow enough to ensure safety of the everyday citizen. Roads have had to be regularly proportional to the adjacent building height since the 17th century to ensure a safe passage for drivers and pedestrians alike. With new epidemics, such as cholera, emerging in Europe, narrow streets “encouraged incubation” of deadly diseases and put the public population at risk for diseases. Cities then remodeled regulations by outlawing outbuildings (Naples 1553) and carefully planned systems for sewage and above-ground water. Now-obvious regulations were so monumental then, so they set the basic standards for all streets. Fifth Street has very wide, efficient roads that ensure enough room for pedestrians to stroll leisurely, and it also has wide enough lanes and efficient street lights that boast thorough movement of automobile traffic. Not quite successful is Fifth Street’s drainage system. Because Atlanta doesn’t typically receive large amounts of rain, the drainage system has not been engineered to collect that much rainwater. So, on a particularly rainy day, a pedestrian might very well find their pant leg wet from ground to mid-calf. Granted, the systems are engineered to be healthy and efficient for all street users, but Mother Nature sometimes makes life a little wet for the average pedestrian. The key to a successful plan, according to John Reps, is that it must be “extremely flexible, ultimately expandable, completely concerned system that can accommodate multiple landscapes and infinite architectural futures” (Nelson 5). Therefore, a street (or in this case, a grid/network) should have an initially sound network of streets, blocks, lots, and (less importantly) squares, parks, axial streets and meandering pathways , with room to expand and innovate. One of the most successful plans is the design of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by John Penn. His simplistic design designated areas for residential and civic lots but also reserved areas for public use. This plan created a “timeless quality” because it took into account previous experiences—The Great Fire of London in 1666 and the religious movement of the Quakers into the New World) and thereby expressed the personality of the designer and the inhabitants while still implementing obvious logic and space for expansion and renovation. Oppositely, Atlanta, Georgia was built ad hoc, that is, unplanned. It was a collision of frontier land and the railroad, so it created triangular shaped sites that left no room for parks, civic squares, or even monuments. Its irregular design has since then posed a problem for builders and city planners since. Fifth Street needed to be remodeled to serve as a connector between downtown Atlanta and Georgia Tech. Before the build, it was uninviting and very separated. The land, like many other frameworks was separated by lots, and to make the transition from Atlanta into Georgia Tech more subtle and easeful, designers has to envision a place that was expandable and user-friendly. For example, the bridge that runs over Interstate 75/85 was used to access Georgia Tech, but was very much like the bridge on North Avenue. There was nothing inviting about the space, and many pedestrians avoided the walk altogether. Now that the bridge has tall, sound-barrier walls accompanied by idyllic patches of grass and overhangs that protect pedestrians from the harsh rays of the sun. These small additions to the bridge make it much more inviting and it now hosts many more pedestrians than before for a price of ten million dollars. In the long run, renovations such as the bridge over Fifth Street and the many more to come make it a more inviting space for public users. In Andrew Blum’s essay, “The Mall Goes Undercover,” he sardonically remarks on the movement from malls to “lifestyle centers.” These new developments mimic the ideal urban street—complete with sidewalks, street side parking, and many open-air shops that convey the idealistic “urban lifestyle.” He even describes one lifestyle center as being “a delightful place for a Frappuccino” (Blum 1). Architects across the country often try to mimic this unique, vibrant, and very public urban atmosphere but have problems because streets are public spaces while lifestyle centers (like many other establishments) are private spaces and are therefore subject to sustained surveillance by the owner /operator. Privately owned areas have problems mimicking the urban atmosphere because public streets embody the character of the people that use them. While public streets are still subject to local and state laws, the vast differences in the people and the reasons they use urban amenities make public streets uniquely urban. The differences with urban life and the rest of the world are embodied in the design of Fifth Street. It is naturally an urban area, but the wide sidewalks, many lamps, benches, and tall buildings that function as both commercial and residential areas make Fifth Street an animated urban development. The design sets the street so that the diverse types of people are free to use it as they wish, and this gives Fifth Street its unique urban allure. The typical urban street has and always will be a center for human interaction. The fast paced life of a typical urban citizen doesn’t inhibit the natural interaction that occurs when hundreds of people are placed in the same city block. Whether it be a nonchalant brushing of one person’s coat against another or the exchange of a friendly smile and “Hey!” that accompanies so many southern greetings, Fifth Street is designed to encourage social development. Benches facing each other, small café tables placed outside restaurants, and sidewalks wide enough for two people both ways are almost unrecognizable designs that required much thought to encourage the everyday citizen to interact with his fellow man along Fifth Street. Shakespeare once said, “All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players.” The street is no exception and has always been a spectacle for public display. From governmental exertion of power to personal displays of everyday life, the street acts as a “stage” for those willing to perform. The most obvious theatrical display within the street has always been through the government. “Man is nature’s greatest phenomenon…and the most magnificent of all spectacles is that of a large popular festival” (“The Street” 196), Robespierre exclaimed in 1794. He, like many other political leaders, used aspects of the public street to persuade common citizens to his own way of thinking. Temporary exhibitions such as May Day 1918 in St. Petersburg with its red flags, banners, and posters, radically displayed political support and celebrated content with the government among citizens. In an opposing democratic society, Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. permanently and metaphorically joined the national and state powers of the United States when the Capitol was completed in January 1805 and joined the White House through a simple, mile long street. This design has provided the perfect “stage” for many citizens to protest and celebrate the American government. In a smaller setting, the re-designing of Fifth Street has allowed many of Atlanta’s citizens to express their most important interests—commonly being, advertising. On any given day, well-lit, aesthetically appealing signs adorn all of the building entrances, and coupons and flyers constantly pass from person to person in hopes of having the best sale price or the most attended student event. The best advertising for vendors and students on Fifth Street is actually happening right now. Christmas season is a time for love, peace, and of course, giving, so by decorating the street and buildings with twinkling lights and garland, customers are expected to get into the holiday spirit and buy, buy, buy. This kind of display exemplifies the fact that Fifth Street, like any other street, is a running and operating theater with the stage set to serve the needs of the “actors” (civilians). On a personal scale, Fifth Street acts as a stage for the everyday pedestrian and driver. From the sweet caresses of a young couple in love to the sharp clicking of a business woman late for a meeting, people on the street know that they are being watched by someone at some point, and are therefore performing on the stage for the public to see. Even drivers who quickly zoom past on their way to different destinations know that they have a small part in a greater show that runs all day, everyday. People who experience Fifth Street subconsciously understand that they are part of a greater production that has taken many years of planning, monetary support, and critical thought. The re-development has changed the area completely and impacts the lives of the citizens of Atlanta and Georgia Tech everyday and certainly will for years to come. Assignment 10/28/07 Architecture 10/10/07 Part One: The lecturer, Ellen Dunham-Jones opened the lecture with the open question, “What distinguishes a work of architecture from an ordinary building?” We concluded that the criteria is not always defined and that society has the most impact on the importance of a building, but ironically enough, our buildings then shape the social ideals, culture, and disciplines of our society. She then gave many examples of famous buildings throughout the world and the different implications they gave. Last she made it clear that the role of the architect (whether solo or corporate team leader) is to express the desires of their own society. Georgia Tech then offers students many directions to follow that all require education that works both sides of the brain, and that type of learning is acquired best in studio. Part Two: Vitruvius’s three things that make architecture useful- 1. Commodity (Accommodation) 2. Firmness 3. Delight (Aesthetic Value) (Wikipedia explains that Vitruvius asserts that architecture must be strong or durable, useful, and beautiful, and must also be an imitation of nature.) Old Man’s Profession- This is the cliché idea that holds that most successful architects are older men. Most of the time, it is true, but Ms. Dunham-Jones explained that they are trying to change that by introducing many design competitions that help younger architects earn a name for themselves at a younger age. Part Three: What constitutes “great” architecture in American society today? Is there room for the ideas of so many upcoming designers? How common is it for graduates of Georgia Tech to open their own design firm? Since architecture is defined as an Old Man’s Profession most of the time, is the average age of successful architects going down because of new design competitions? Building Construction 10/15/07 Part One: Dr. Roozbeh Kangari, director of the Building Construction Program at Georgia Tech began his lecture with the simple concept of building construction: designing and then building, but after adding in all the different parts in the process of building, I noticed how complex the process can be. Without wholistic thinking about the different areas in the process, and a good relationship between all of the stakeholders in the process, construction is not possible. He explained the different jobs within the process and then showed the best type of relationship between all the people to produce a cost-efficient and timely building. Last, he explained that the Building Construction program at Georgia Tech aims to educate their students to organize, lead and (most importantly) manage all aspects in building construction, and their vision is to create a fully integrated and highly efficient program that prepares students to be successful in the Building Construction industry. Part Two: Wholistic Thinking- Dr. Kangari described wholistic thinking as being able to know about the different areas in the “design and build” concept and to understand their relationship with each other. Integration systems have improved wholistic thinking, and he explained that the new trend in building construction is AEC Integration. AEC Integration- We learned from the lecture on 9/12/07 by Brian Bowen that integration is a mix of the different areas within a major that produce more efficient and better quality projects. AEC Integration in the building construction industry between architects, engineers, and contractors could come about only through advanced technology and cultural change (attitudes), but would produce, once again, more efficient projects. Decommissioning- The broad definition of decommissioning is “to withdraw from active service (Dictionary.com),” but more specifically within the Building Construction Sector, it is the tearing down of a building when it’s part its prime and becomes dangerous and/or not profitable. This is the final process cycle of building and re-building. Part Three: •Since Dr. Kangari described the Building Construction program at Georgia Tech as being more about management, how are students taught to manage other people, and would it be wise to minor/double major in business management? •Are students taught how to keep in close contact and form long-standing relationships with the other stakeholders in a “design and build” process since these close relationships produce the more cost-efficient and successful builds? •Is it common for students to graduate from Georgia Tech and work in a firm and then open their own Construction/Contacting company, or do they usually stay with one company for life? •If the building construction industry is so profitable right now, will it decline in the near future? Does it do a wave-like movement like so many other professions? Industrial Design 10/22/07 Part One: In the lecture about Industrial Design, the speaker, Abir Mullick opened to lecture by giving many definitions of design and industrial design, and then finished with his own personal definition of industrial design that he put together that both encompasses and stresses the idea that industrial design should be about much more than the design itself. He explained that a design should be about the user and the interaction of the object within its environment. With new technology and Georgia Tech’s philosophy, he explains that they produce some of the best designers in the world (17th to be exact). Part Two: Industrial Design-Dictionary.com defines industrial design as being “the art that deals with the design problems of manufactured objects, including problems of designing such objects with consideration for available materials and means of production, of designing packages, bottles, etc., for manufactured goods, and of graphic design for manufactured objects, packages, etc,” but Abir Mullick defined Industrial Design as “the professional service of creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer.” His definition is broader, and encompasses the idea that industrial design affects not only the designer, but the user as well. Branding- I originally thought that this term meant to literally brand something to mark it and show ownership, but after researching the term in context with the lecture, I found that the definition is much less specific. It means the visual language that shows membership in something. Use-centered- I thought that this term meant what it sounded like, but through research and examining Mr. Mullick’s lecture more closely, I found that this term is used to describe the way a design should be. It should not only be made to be perfect and continuous in its one use by the designer, but it should be made to work in harmony with the people, objects, and environment it serves. Part Three: •How can a student advance in the field of Industrial Design if they come into Georgia Tech with little to no artistic talent? •Will they be able to advance from being just ordinary to extraordinary? And what makes the difference between a good designer and a great designer? •If designers should be geared to examine the people, objects, and space that interact with the objects, how much time does it take to fully complete one design? •Is the salary of an average industrial designer based strictly on the amount of designs that they produce for a firm, or the quality of the design produced? Assignment 10/12/07 GIL DesRoches, Reginald. Hurricane Katrina’s Impact on Louisiana’s Transportation Infrastructure. 2006. Flynn, Stephen E. The Edge of Disaster : Rebuilding a Resilient Nation. 1st Edition. New York: Random House, 2007. United States Congress. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.Disasters and the Department of Homeland Security: Where do we go from here?. Washington D.C.: G.P.O., February 16, 2006. United States Congress. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Gulf Coast Recovery Act of 2005. Washington D.C.: G.P.O., 2005. United States Congress. Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.A Vision and Strategy for Rebuilding New Orleans. Washington D.C.: G.P.O., October 18, 2005. United States Congress. Subcommittee on Highways, Transit, and Pipelines of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.Rebuilding highway and transit infrastructure on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina . Washington D.C.: G.P.O., October 20, 2005 EBSCOhost Gill, Duane A. "Disaster Research and Hurricane Katrina." Sociological Spectrum. Vol. 27(2007): 609-612. Lee, Matthew, Frederick Weil, and Edward Shihadeh. "The FEMA Trailer Parks: Negative Perceptions and the Social Structure of Avoidance." Sociological Spectrum. Vol. 27(2007): 741-766. Lyons , Adele C. "After Katrina, What's Next?." Chronicle of Philanthropy. Vol. 19(2007): 35. Michel, Lacie M. "Personal Responsibility and Volunteering after a Natural Disaster: the Case of Hurricane Katrina." Sociological Spectrum. Vol. 27(2007): 633-652. "Toxic Trailers." Christian Century. Vol. 124(2007): 8-9. "Two Years after Katrina." Christian Century. Vol. 124(2007): 12-13. Weems, Carl, Sarah E. Watts, Monika Marsee, and Leslie Taylor. "The Psychosocial Impact of Hurricane Katrina: Contextual Differences in Psychological Symptoms, Social Support, and Discrimination." Behaviour Research and Therapy, Vol. 45(2007): 2295-2306. LexisNexis Elliot, Geoff. "Wounds of Katrina Slow to Heal." The Australian 28 Aug. 2006, sec. World: 14. LexisNexis Academic. 11 Oct. 2007. Jackson, David, ed. "Bush Returns Again to Gulf Coast for Katrina Anniversary; Still Smarting From Political Damage, He'll Stress Progress." USA Today 28 Aug. 2006: 8a. LexisNexis Academic. 11 Oct. 2007. "Jobs and Joblessness on the Gulf Coast." The New York Times 2 Nov. 2005, sec. A: 28. LexisNexis Academic. 11 Oct. 2007. "Katrina Swept Away Faith in Government." Los Angeles Times 30 Aug. 2006, sec. B: 12. LexisNexis Academic. 11 Oct. 2007. Sawyer, Tom. "New Orleans Disaster Blamed on Decades of Bad Decisions." Engineering News-Record 11 June 2007: 13. LexisNexis Academic. 11 Oct. 2007. Zigmond, Jessica. "Gulf Coast Still Hurting." Modern Healthcare 28 Aug. 2006: 14. LexisNexis Academic. 10 Oct. 2007. ProQuest Alan S Brown. "Remodeling the Gulf. " Mechanical Engineering 129.5 (2007): 28-33. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 Alex Frangos. "Historic New Orleans Architecture Faces Threat; Preservationists Scramble To Stave Off Wrecking Ball After Damage by Katrina. " Wall Street Journal [New York, N.Y.] 14 Sep. 2005, Eastern edition: B.10. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 Chris Kirkham. "RAW DETERMINATION ; Lousiana's storm-ravaged oyster industry struggles back and a banner season could be at hand. " Times - Picayune [New Orleans, La.] 9 Sep. 2007,E.01. National Newspapers (27). ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 Christopher Hawthorne. "ARCHITECTURE; New Orleans must look back to move ahead :[HOME EDITION]. " Los Angeles Times [Los Angeles, Calif.] 2 Apr. 2006,E.1. Los Angeles Times. ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 David Whitney. "Opposition to levee plan is retracted: Oklahoma senator's bid faced defeat; proposed capital-area repair funds grow to $37 million. " Knight Ridder Tribune Business News 4 May 2006 1. ABI/INFORM Dateline. ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 Deon Roberts. "Tulane architecture students apply skills to help New Orleans rebuild. " New Orleans CityBusiness 22 May 2006: 1. ABI/INFORM Dateline. ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 Harold Ford, Jr. and Jim Hall. "Let's Rebuild America Together :[1]. " Wall Street Journal [New York, N.Y.] 17 Aug. 2007, Eastern edition: A.13. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 Louis Uchitelle. "Disasters Waiting To Happen. " New York Times [New York, N.Y.] 11 Sep. 2005, Late Edition (East Coast): 3.1. National Newspapers (27). ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 "Louisiana's governor details $4.6B state contribution to recovery effort. " New Orleans CityBusiness 17 May 2007: 1. ABI/INFORM Dateline. ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 Marc Siegel. "Trauma in New Orleans. " The Nation 10 Sep. 2007: 4. Research Library. ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 Mark Schleifstein Staff writer. "Rebuild smarter, study urges ; Flood-prone areas to flood again, it says. " Times - Picayune [New Orleans, La.] 24 Oct. 2006,B.01. National Newspapers (27). ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 Paul Snyder. "Nation's infrastructure needs unmet. " The Daily Reporter [Milwaukee, Wis.] 8 Mar. 2007,1. ABI/INFORM Dateline. ProQuest. 12 Oct. 2007 Assignment 9/30/07 Architecture, Culture, and Behavior 9/17/07 Part One: In the lecture from 9/17, the speaker, Craig Zimring, stressed the importance of structuring our environment so that it, in return benefits us. First, he discussed one of the greatest health risk concerning people in America today, obesity, and he explained how engineering stairs to be comfortable, safe, available, convenient, aesthetic, and most importantly, accessible can result in small environmental change that will hopefully prove to result in weight loss among most Americans. Next, he depicted some of the problems with healthcare today, and suggested some solutions that can come about with building modifications that, research suggests, can significantly decrease hospital-related illnesses and the time patients spend in recovery. The most interesting part of the lecture for me was the “fable hospital room” that was structured very specifically so that patients can have a more efficient, safe, and comfortable stay. All of the research and studies that push this “fabled room” took into account light, noise, window view, and separate areas for the patient, caregiver, and the family will significantly decrease costs for the hospital (even with complete reconstruction). This is proof that “we shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us (spoken by Winston Churchill).” Part Two: Obesity- When I was going through my notes, I thought, “what is obesity exactly?,” so technically, it means “a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissue of humans and other mammals, is increased to a point where it is associated with certain health conditions or increased mortality.” (according to Wikipedia). In the lecture, the speaker explained that Americans’ sedentary lifestyles lead to obesity which then leads to other problems such as depression, diabetes, and even death. Before the lecture, I thought that obesity was just being excessively fat, but after the presentation and research, it is much more advanced than that. Hybrid Physical Activity- Hybrid Physical Activity is one of the different types of physical along with intentional and incidental which are what they sound like. Dr. Zimring explained that hybrid physical activity comes about when our environment is engineered to hinder an increase in weight loss and a decrease in overall obesity in America. For example, one study suggests that adding one minute extra stair-climbing can result in a loss of about 1.5 pounds a year (that is if there isn’t an increase in calorie consumption). This type of activity is fairly important to this lecture and the built environment in general because it is getting more and more important as our society continues to lead more and more sedentary lifestyles. Fable Hospital Room- The fable hospital room is a room designed by many people in the different fields contributing to architecture, culture, and behavior that is engineered to create a more comfortable stay for a patient which then, in turn, decreases costs for hospitals. For example, the room has a foot wider bathroom door and a rail from bed to bathroom that may cost more, but it ends up costing the hospital less because of lower rate of fall victims (which come with law suits and increased stays in the hospital). This room is also divided into three different sections: patient zone, caregiver zone, and family zone. This makes the room more comfortable and less apt to infection. Part Three: Why isn’t the shocking evidence concerning obesity (which then results in Type One Diabetes and Depression) and hybrid physical activity taught in all the different professions? Will hospitals actually choose to reconstruct according to the research presented in this lecture? If the industry for healthcare construction is prospected to spend about 60 billion dollars a year by the year 2010, will it continue to be so lucrative in years to come? Is hospital design its own profession (sector), or is a specification within building construction/architecture? Atlantic Station Lecture 9/19/07 Part One: The speaker discussed the demolition of the Atlanta Steel Mill, and its journey to becoming Atlantic Station. She documented the process by taking many photographs and videos, so she didn’t have a hands-on experience with the project. However, she did discuss the project as an example of how we tear down everything old to make room for new. Even though she expressed affliction for our loss of a historical monument, she understood that it was more of an environmental hazard than the new shopping complex that took its place. Part Two: Environmental remediation- Environmental remediation is the removal of pollution or contaminants from environmental media such as soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water for the general protection of human health and the environment or from a brownfield site intended for redevelopment (Wikipedia). This especially needed to be done for this particular site because there were probably many pollutants left from the Mill before. Modernism- Modernism is a trend of thought that affirms the power of human beings to create, improve, and reshape their environment, with the aid of scientific knowledge, technology and practical experimentation, and is thus in its essence both progressive and optimistic (Wikipedia). This mode of thought is essential to the Atlanta Steel Project because that was the theory that pushed many people to want to replace such a historic site with a shopping center. They challenged this method of thought further by leaving certain things to remember the site (ex: the smoke stack and even the roof style). Industrialism- an economic organization of society built largely on mechanized industry rather than agriculture, craftsmanship, or commerce (Dictionary.com) Part Three: Is a general degree in photography or history needed to be able to do what the Ruth Dusseault did with the Atlantic Station project? What other kinds of professions (besides photography) deal with documenting progress of projects such as the Atlanta Steel Mill? Didn’t the demolition of the Steel Mill pollute the air around the site in itself? Also, do any health hazards arise in the workers with large demolitions such as this one? Do the architects for the new project need to be present at the demolition and/or take into account the buildings with historical value when designing the new project? Assignment 9/16/07 Disability Design and Research In the lecture, the speaker discussed the research that goes into designing disability equipment. He organized his lecture through a series of power point slides that defined terms, exemplified products, and explained exactly what the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) does. He defined terms such as Assistive Technology, Universal Design Appeal, and Specialized Assistive Technology. The first term that he made a point to stress was disability. He defined it as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual,” while dictionary.com defines a disability as “a lack of adequate power, strength, or physical or mental ability; incapacity.” The two definitions are drastically different which explains why he made a point to stress his definition of a disability in the first place. He also used a term, Universal Design Appeal, which is something made for people with disabilities that benefits everyone (even those without disabilities). A prime example is a wheelchair ramp. Universal Design Appeal is almost the exact opposite of Specialized Assistive Technology; these items are made specifically for people with disabilities. Examples include wheelchairs, artificial limbs, and hearing aids. These terms along with the lecture left me with many questions such as:
AEC Technology In the lecture entitled “AEC Integration- A View from the Center,” the speaker, Brian Bowen describes the characteristics of the construction business and even points out some problems that the modern industry has. He had a very structured, organized presentation—supported by research and history—that helped him convey his points. He used terms such as integration, fragmentation, and supply chain. Bowen explained that one of the biggest problems with construction in modern times is the lack of vertical integration. The basic meaning of integration is “an act or instance of combining into an integral whole (Dictionary.com).” There are problems in the building industry with integration because there is too much specialization and a negative attitude from people in different specializations (he showed a poll taken at Auburn University to prove this). My pre-conceived notion of fragmentation is the basic definition, “the act or process of breaking into fragments,” but there are multiple meanings such as “the disintegration, collapse, or breakdown of norms of thought, behavior, or social relationship” and “(computer science) the condition of a file that is broken up and stored in many different locations on a magnetic disk.” In the context of this lecture, fragmentation is the organization of production where different stages of production are divided among different suppliers which almost completely contradicts the notion of integration. The definition (according to Dictionary.com) of a supply chain is “the network of retailers, distributors, transporters, storage facilities and suppliers that participate in the sale, delivery and production of a particular product,” and basically it is just that. Contractors must have this system in order to function normally and successfully.
Assignment 9/9/07 Classical Architecture Part One: During this lecture, a series of speakers discussed their work in the field of Classical Architecture. They presented classical architecture as a viable design type for the contemporary market by showing slides of work that they and their firms had completed Part Two: Vernacular- a particular style unique to a specific area. The speaker explained that he had to examine an areas “vernacular” so that his design would fit in with the style of the other buildings. High-end Residential Areas- These are houses and buildings for the wealthy that have a classical style. Part Three: 1. Is Classical Style still taught as strictly and thoroughly at Georgia Tech where technology is the driving force behind most people’s education? 2. Are architects looked down on for being more classically driven in a society of modern style people? 3. As our society becomes a more technologically advanced society, is there still a demand for classically-trained architects? Solar Decathlon Part One: In the lecture, the speaker discussed a competition that some students and faculty from Georgia Tech enter into—called the Solar Decathlon. The competition is held every year and the speaker gave a power point that went into detail about the plans for this upcoming year’s house. I thought it was very interesting that technology in the field of solar energy has become so advanced that people are building homes that are fully supported by solar energy. The speaker used terms such as collaboration, isolation, sequence of construction, and other solar panel vocabulary to describe the intricate design process and to stress the importance of testing and retesting the model. Part Two: Grey Water- This is used very often in the solar decathlon where energy conservation is key. Grey water is water that does not have to be purified for drinking, and the homes in the solar decathlon use this water for places such as the toilet bowl, shower, and dishwasher. Photovoltaic- “Capable of producing a voltage when exposed to radiant energy, especially light (the sun).” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/photovoltaic) Part Three: This session raised the most questions for me because solar power/energy is a fairly new science so there is a great possibility for new professions to come about and research to advance. Some questions that I raised were: 1. How can first or second year Architecture students get involved in such a complicated process as the Solar Decathlon? 2. Are there going to be degrees specific to the research and development of cheaper, more efficient solar power offered at Georgia Tech in the future? 3. Is solar power going to be more readily available for designers and builders of homes in the future? Digital Design and Manufacturing Part One: The last speaker explained how many projects develop from a seemingly simple idea to a complex design through a process of thinking, developing, documenting, producing, and actually assembling. He stressed the iterative design process through citation of different digitally designed and manufactured projects; many of them had actually been produced and displayed here at Georgia Tech. He used many unfamiliar terms to describe the tools and software used in these processes. Part Two: Iterative Design Process- This process has come about from computer technology and entails building a prototype, testing it over and over, and analyzing it before building the “real thing.” Local/Global Variation- Local variation is where the part is initially, and global variation is where the part is in relation to the whole (installation). Part Three: 1. Would the resources used in digital design and manufacturing be readily available to all students in the School of Architecture? 2. Are the disciplines of the iterative design process stressed here at Georgia Tech? 3. Is this skill needed for all the areas of design (Architecture, Building Construction, Industrial Design), or is it just characteristic of Industrial Design? Installation One Description: The installation outside of the Architecture building is made out of polycarbonate plastic which is used in different types of construction and appliances for its temperature resistance, impact resistance, and visual appeal. The structure of the installation is unique in the fact that it seems to float in mid air, but in fact, it is supported by the architecture building itself. If viewing it from a full frontal shot, its base is located on the far right hand side, and all of the branches seem to spring from this base. Each part is stacked on top of each other and then bolted down to the concrete below it. They then loop in front of the first column and spread out in many separate directions making an elaborate pattern of loops and twists. Each loop and twist is secured every couple of feet by screws and washers. Unfortunately, the mystical aura is lost when one looks at the installation up close because it simply looks like a many pieces of plastic put together, but it obviously took many hours of designing and testing to make this artifact so fabulous. Speculation: As a very new architecture student, I can only examine and speculate as to how this piece is put together, but detailed surveillance has helped me to produce a multitude of observations. As the sun rises in the morning, its rays shine upon the flexures of the unique polycarbonate installation located in the back of the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Architecture (West) Building. Throughout the day, it seems to watch the passerby and beckon all architecture enthusiasts to come explore what the College of Architecture has to offer. Even when dark clouds start to form, the installation morphs into an eerie structure that serves to foreshadow the rain that is to come. It never seems to rest, for even at night, when most are asleep, the installation is glowing, still beckoning. The most appropriate name I can produce for this installation is Fantasia. It both evokes the mystical nature of the artifact and catches the attention of people—the reason it was constructed. Installation Two Description: The second installation is easily deemed more useful than the first because not only does it appeal to the eye, but it serves as a bench for weary students, faculty, and visitors. The installation is made of a light-colored plywood and is so unique in the fact that it seems to move in a wave three stories high. Depending on the perspective of the viewer, it can appear to flow downwards and settle on the first floor, or it can appear to have a base on the first level and soar up to the third floor. Despite differing perspectives, everyone can see that the installation is made up of many strips of wood that are kept together by several iron bars along with screws and washers. Like the first installation, the wooden installation is supported by the building itself, and like the polycarbonate structure it seems to magically float in mid-air. Phenomenological qualities are brought out when conditions change; the piece itself seems to change depending on the perspective of the viewer (once again). For example, when daylight inches into the College of Architecture early in the morning, it makes the thin pieces of wood in the installation seem to vanish from certain angles. These illusions cannot be explained, but they are spectacular nonetheless. Speculation: The wooden installation serves a completely different purpose than the polycarbonate installation. The wooden installation was probably created to warm up the sterile atmosphere of the atrium. This is evident by the choice to make the piece out of wood instead of an unfriendly plastic or metal. The architects also chose to make the piece move in a wave-like motion to make it not only appealing to look at, but to break up the clean, hard lines of the rest of the building. For this reason, I think that the installation should be named Mable to reflect the warm, inviting nature that it embodies. Link to this Page
|  | 
|