        Morris, Eric : AssignmentsEdit Morris, Eric : Assignments here.Assignment for October 28th Lecture No.1 – Architecture Part No.1 - The main topic of the lecture was on the opportunities that the field of architecture at Georgia Tech has to offer us. The key points were about the jobs offered and the broad span of what architecture can do. Part No.2 – Sustainability – To me it means a characteristic of a process or state that can be maintained at a certain level indefinitely. But during the presentation I had to discover this term based on its context and usage. It applies to architecture because you need to understand so many levels of knowledge before you can make an educated decision on what you are designing. Individualism within Unity – When this term was being used during the Thomas Jefferson college part, it symbolized the complexity that can be reached without compromising the overall appeal of the project. The way it integrates into architecture is that it will create a deeper sense of thought into the design and into people’s minds. Technology Integration – At the first mention of this concept was a complete unknown. I thought about it and realized that this was just another level of integration into the architecture community, not only do we need to be able to work with people from the other fields related to architecture but with neighboring technologies. Part No.3 - Discipline – For their discipline I feel that the main concern would be that it can’t be taught to people that aren’t willing or have that particular drive. Unlike mathematics, designing can’t be spoon-fed and lead through, thus giving a large sense of ambiguity. Profession – The main issue that was presented in the lecture was that there is and always will be a large separation between architecture and other disciplines, but that there is always a way to create a bridge to lessen the divide between them. Program – For this question I feel that the lady giving the lecture stressed that the program is intense, and I feel that if the program is too intense it may detract from its original face value. If this problem were to truly arise, it could lead to a bad situation for all levels of the hierarchy. Lecture No.2 – Industrial Design Part No.1 – in this presentation the main focus was on the ID field offered at Georgia Tech and why it is so important to the designing industry. It centered on the functionability of it in the real world and why it has become such a big part of life. Part No.2 – Aesthetic – This term was not completely new to me but there was always some form of ambiguity. I learned that in industrial design an aesthetic appeal means the visual pleasantness of a project, or how it affects the viewer into interacting with the object. Humanization – The way that this term impacted me was that it leads me to believe that there was more to industrial design. The real definition is that the designer needs or has incorporated some form of humanity into what they have or is creating. It makes the consumer more liable to be attracted to it and find himself or herself in it. Not mass-manufactured – I know what this term means in laymen’s terms, but in the sense of industrial design I had not true idea. I thought that most things ended up being mass-manufactured. It makes sense to me now that designers wouldn’t want their visions being diluted and proliferated across a market where they are just things rather than designs. Part No.3 - Discipline – In this regard I think that the main question would be similar to the architecture one. How could it necessarily taught to someone in the scope of the world who can’t draw or isn’t creative, at least with math there are some concepts that you can base decisions on, but in ID there is no thought of that. Profession – My main question was how can one break out into the industry without compromising a certain degree of uniqueness, if the industry is moving in one direction, wouldn’t the expected outcome of the project that you were assigned to do decrease the quality of creativity? Program – My only concern with this aspect of the Id course was that the work might not be able to prep some people for the real world, in that the designers at college need to be lead through most things. And that in the real world the conditions may be a lot more rugged and loose. So that may set up some of the designers for failure. Lecture No.3 – Building Construction Part No.1 – Building construction to me was a mystery, but it became clear to me that it was the delegation of activities and levels of management in the construction aspect of the College of Architecture. Part No.2 – Owner Representatives – During one of the slides this term came up and after some research and thought I found out that it meant a person who is directly employed by the financier o f the project that comes to observe and keep track of the construction process. Entrepreneurial Drive – When this was spoke of I had never really given it any forethought. It means to me now of a persons will to succeed, to produce excellence, and to become someone who it an expert of their field. That is very important to me now because it means a direct want to be great. Value Engineering – It means that designing on budget and creating in the accurate scope of mind. It would be unrealistic if you were to create a skyscraper in a budget of a million dollars, so this can be a very important concept. Part No.3 - Discipline – To be able to learn this field you either need to have or need to develop a driving personality or way of managing people, because without it the project is likely to continue inefficiently. Profession – In the construction community the speaker talked about how the job placement rate has become so high and that finding a job is easy with a Georgia Tech degree, but with the opportunities opening, wouldn’t it become more difficult to find a job with all of the fresh and competitive recruits? Program – As stated before, I didn’t realize how the program could teach a person courage and assertiveness that is needed to become a successful manager. But because I’m not going to be pursuing this career track I don’t feel like I have an accurate grasp of what it has to offer in this regard. COA 1060 Assignment 09.30.07 Lecture No.1 – Architecture, Culture, and Behavior Part No.1 – What the main focus of this session was the actual impact that architecture has on people from a plethora of topics. The way that the lecture was structured was with an introduction into obesity and then a transition into how architecture and design affects our health. One of the most important things that jumped out to me during the lecture was the section on hospitals and the affect that light has on patients and their recovery. Part No.2 – Obesity – When I originally thought of this I immediately thought of what it meant in a literal sense and not in the designers’ sense. I really didn’t know how this concept fit into the tactics and strategies of designing. But during the presentation I found out how important design can actually be to living well. Space – When I heard the listed term I knew what he was talking about as soon as it left his mouth. But he broke up the term into different ways and sections in order to interpret his views and ideas, in particular when he was describing all of the aspects of the hospital room. Programming – In the common sense of the word it means a series of actions to have an object perform in a desired fashion. And in the lecture he used this in a way that was related to the aesthetic design and actual construction of a building; all of which made complete sense to me by the end of the lecture. Part No.3 – 1 – At which point do the health community and the construction community collide; during the design phase or during other parts of the process? 2 – How does the health field interfere with the design of buildings in the city, such as skyscrapers and cluster housing? 3 – What kinds of people are needed to make the correct decisions for the health-conscious building process? 4 – When learning how to design a health safe environment, what aspect is the most important to cover in reference to occupants? Lecture No.2 – Photographic Study of Atlantic Station Part No.1 – The main focus of this lecture was the documentation of the destruction and ensuing construction of the Atlantic Station area. She based her argument around a video documentation as she narrated what was happening. The most important thing that was stressed throughout the presentation was about green-space and the lack of if in the final design. Part No.2 – Green-space – I knew what green-space was when she was talking about it in relation to Atlantic Station, but as she integrated it into her presentation I realized how important the preservation of areas for plants and trees were in an urban or compacted setting. And as she spoke I could understand her concern for the welfare of the construction area. Utopian – An idealized image of an object or subject with completely perfect qualities; that is what I thought it meant in layman’s terms, but in the construction sense I found out that it can actually mean an efficient, clean and well-maintained sense of design. As she spoke of planned communities of Walt Disney and Frank Lloyd Wright. Historical – As she spoke of this I thought of an inspired form of design and construction based around the vernacular-ism of the area. And in the context of her speech I found out that she incorporated this term into the design of the buildings, and the preservation of the smokestack. Part No. 3 – 1 – Is photography the only method to capture a documentation of an object or a series of events effectively? 2 – The creation of Atlantic Station was controversial to her because of the negligence to the amount of green-space added to the design; is this a widespread issue in Atlanta or America as a whole? 3 – The art of photography was useful in capturing this particular kind of data; can it be translated any differently than it was intended? 4 – Who’s responsibility is it to monitor the environment besides the EPA and the speaker, in this particular instance? Lecture No.3 – The Appeal of Palladio Part No.1 – The main focus of this lecture was the life and designs of a famous Venetian architect known as Palladio. He based the session around a slideshow of his various works and the thought around his designs. What I found most interesting was the way that he designed his houses using a simple proportional method combined with perfect symmetry. Part No.2 – Proportions – The unusual method in which Palladio utilized the idea of proportions in his designs is probably the reason that he became so well-known. I did not realize that it could be taken to this level, but in retrospect I believe that is it one of the most ingenius ideas that could ever be used. Vernacular – I knew that the term while he was speaking about Palladio, and the way that he used his visual aids to explain how he integrated the local Venetian design into most of his country villas allowed us, as the students, to really learn how to appreciate the meaning of the word. Symmetry – The way that the speaker combined this term into the presentation of Palladio gave a good auditory cue and relationship with the two. I realized the extremity of the concept with the stark manner that the speaker connected with the audience and his subject. Part No.3 – 1 – When learning about Palladio, what are the most important terms to associate with? Would it be symmetry or proportions or another term? 2 – Could Palladio be known as the most influential person in the history of Architecture as the speaker said? Or is it up to debate as to who it is? 3 – In what ways can Palladio’s methods be most useful in the real, modern world? 4 – Are the ways that Palladio manufacture and design still felt in the world around us today in the construction industry? COA 1060 – Assignment for 09.16.2007 Lecture No.1 – CATEA; Assistive Technologies Part 1 – The main topic of this lecture was the design and investigation of assistive technologies, or a multi-disciplinary approach to disability research. The speaker, Stephen Sprigle, introduced the idea of a disability, and then transitioned into how he facilitates and engineers the products. But probably the most important concept covered was about the design of the products. Part 2 – Assistive Technology – I thought that this meant any sort of technology that was used in the lives of a disabled person in order to facilitate their lives. But after the lecture I found out that it more defines the improved functionality of a technology for the broader usage in the consumer and private market. Relatively the semantics could relate more to a specialized audience rather than to the much larger clientele that it caters to. Universal Design Appeal – When this was first introduced I didn’t quite understand what it had to do with design for the disabled. But upon further reflection and critical thinking. It meant technologies that were originally created to help out the disabled population yet gained universal use throughout the entire population. I think that this concept is great because it doesn’t truly exclude any certain section of the population and that it proves that a specialized innovation can lead to widespread use. Disability – I had a preconceived notion that disabled was strictly along the lines of a mental handicap or a physical detriment. When the instructor first made the distinction I realized that it was actually a physical or mental impairment that substantially affects one or more major life activities. The in-depth evaluation that I was given, distinguishes this special and sensitive word and what it means in the world of design. Part 3 –
Lecture No.2 – AEC-Integration – A view from the center Part 1 – The main issue the lecture was about was the design process and integration between all of the its phases. The speaker opened his session with a brief explanation of the construction industry, went to the old and new design processes and then transitioned into how the divide between the designer and constructor. Some of the most important concepts were the Project Delivery Model and the multiple facets of Job Integration. Part 2 – Litigation – When I first heard the instructor say litigation, my first thought was of a chain of command in a business or more corporate sense. But the continued usage of the word and its contexts made me believe it was more of a way of accomplishing a complex task; focusing rather on the situation or project at hand than the actual ranking of status. The way that this was imperative to the discussion was because of the actual topic f integration between the two aforementioned jobs. Lean Construction – Not to sound naïve or anything, but the first thought of mine when this word was said went straight towards green or not wasteful construction because of the connotations that “lean” has. But upon further research I have found out that it means a large focus on concurrent and continuous improvements in most of the dimensions of construction. The way that this could be integral to the topic would be that a communal force that pursues a goal in all levels could draw in a large group of different people to accomplish the task, exact to what the speaker was trying to convey. Ephemeral – When this word was brought up by not only the class but also the instructor, I thought of a transparent or a ghostlike process, something very seamless and smooth when in dealings with the integration factor. But in reality it means that most, if not everything exists only in passing or it is always being changed and adapted. The way that this played into the speech was that an ephemeral nature needs to be introduced into the design community to break down all of the barriers created throughout the entirety of the process. Part 3 -
Lecture No. 3 – Geographic Information Systems: Whenever Where Matters Part 1- The key point to this lecture was based around the idea that using GIS software and hardware can help designers and many more people to access mapped technology. The speaker, Steven French, used maps and diagrams to show the capabilities of the GIS system and mixed designing elements to link the importance of this technology to our futures. The focal points of this session were all of the converging technologies and their usefulness in the architectural and urban planning world of today. Part 2 – Remote Sensing – The initial idea that came to me when remote sensing was more along the lines of some seismic and related terms of sensing. But after overcoming my primary wave of immaturity the lecture showed me that the remote sensing that was mentioned was more related to satellite imaging and GPS technologies than the ideas that I had. The way that remote sensing is used in the workplace and the world around us is very fascinating, and even the instructor said that the technology would only become more streamlined and advanced with time. Converging Technology – As this topic was posted on the powerpoint presentation I already had an accurate, educated guess as to what it was referencing. I knew that the multitude of concurrent equipment in today’s world would work off of each other and aid the acquisition of information gathering. The methods in which Mr. French used this term was in the train of thought that without these converging machines, we would have a near impossible time at achieving what we are today. Research – The initial reaction to this word was one of mixed emotions; one of mundane origins and the other from an inquisitive perspective. I thought that research was just looking up and acquiring information, yet he quickly defined it as a process of creating new technologies and knowledge, which made more sense to me. The standard sense of the word is usually one very similar to mine, but I think that if more people knew just what it actually meant then the appreciation for the word and its meaning would be more heartfelt. Part 3 –
Lecture No.1 – Classical Design Part 1 – The main focus of the lecture on this day was to introduce the CFY students to a new Classical Design Graduate Program here at Georgia Tech. The multiple guest speakers demonstrated their unique knowledge about this program and educate the students on what the program has to offer us. Some of the most important concepts that were covered were the idea of classical design and the integration of it in the world around us. Part 2 – The first term here that was new to me was, of course, classical design. I had an inkling as to what it was, but I didn’t know that it had a specific term though. But it can be clearly defined as, “ A form of architectural design that is specifically oriented to integrating the renaissance and post-renaissance forms into modern settings.” The second concept that I found new to me was Vernacular. Hearing this word being used over throughout most of the speakers’ presentations made me think hard and critically as to what it meant. But the definition I have come up with quickly explained to me the context of its usage, “pertaining or referencing to a specific native construction or architecture” Part 3 – This particular lecture has taught me that there is a detailed and intricate side to architecture, and that the possibilities for a specialized field in this course of study is a concrete reality here at Georgia Tech. The questions that I asked myself were as follows: 1 – Does the field of “Classical Design” inhibit the designer to the scope of jobs that he or she could undertake? 2 – Can “Classical Design” bridge over into other forms of design besides a strictly residential sense? 3 – Classical Design may have an aesthetic appeal to the structure, but are its functionality and practicality put to risk? Lecture No. 2 – Solar Decathlon Part 1 - The main focus of this lecture was the production and ensuing competition of an affordable, zero-energy and “green” residential structure. The speaker designed his presentation around the rules of the Decathlon, the process of their creative process towards their construction of the project, and the summary of how important “green” buildings are to us. The most important things prompted during the presentation were the materials and the processes to the house itself. Part 2 – Green Building was one of the more important aspects to the presentation. I knew the basis of the concept but upon further listening and comprehension I realized that it meant, “The practice of increasing the efficiency of buildings in their usage of energy, water consumption, and materials, and reducing the building impacts on the environment and human health.” The second term that popped out to me during the presentation was the mention of eco-friendly materials. I originally hadn’t put much thought into the materials that they competitors used because it seemed like a minor detail. But I quickly determined that it was a major aspect of the contest. Eco-friendly materials mean, “Materials of an organic origin that have little to no impact on the environment that are created with biodegradable resources”, to me now. Part 3 – Some questions that came to mind during the lecture about the Solar Decathlon and its details were: 1 – Can green construction be as a reliable of a building method than the regular methods of today? 2 – Having a completely energy efficient country seems like a far step away from where we are today, does this competition spur on the current technologies towards green construction? 3 – Can these houses be integrated into larger designs such as skyscrapers or anything on a bigger scale? Lecture No. 3 – CAD-CAM Part 1 – The main topics of this lecture were on the computer-aided technologies of today that are used in the construction, architecture, and design fields. The presenter structured his seminar about the design processes and their respective parts, also about how they have all changed from then to now and all that technology has to offer us. The main concepts that he based his lecture on were all of the steps to the creative design process, such as: conception, development, documentation, production, and assembly. Part 2 – The main concept that the guest speaker involved into his presentation was combinatorics. The very mention of this term sparked a chord in my brain because it was something that I had never even heard before, and it also gave me a little concern because I wasn’t sure if I needed to know this before the lecture. From my research I have found out that it means, “A systematic way of design and mathematics in which details are strictly laid out and given priorities.” This is easily understood now because the usage of all of the technologies aids this process. The second term that was new to me was algorithm; it was something that I learned about in math class but never fully comprehended all of its possible applications. The way that the speaker utilized this was based around the designing aspect of the creative process. I’ve now found out that it means, “is a finite list of well-defined instructions for accomplishing some task that, given an initial state, will terminate in a defined end-state.” Part 3 – As the presentation progressed, I had a couple questions that were ignited as the concepts became more intricate and more involved into the lecture. 1 – Will the roles of the Architect and the Constructor be eventually melded into one based on these new design and fabrication techniques? 2 – Can these new technologies be accounted for a reduction in the classical methods of design? Or do they still rely on each other to achieve optimal results? 3 – The iterative design process seems to be more of a collaborative effort than a single person creating, will this lead to a newer, communicative process among larger groups of designers? Wooden Installation: 1) Description - My first observation of the wooden installation was during 6:45 p.m. after a session in the studio. Here is an extract from my notes. “…From the first floor of the atrium, the wood seems to be cascading down from the heights like a waterfall at sunset. The separations at the base even provide certain imagery, like rocks protruding from the cliffs face into the falling stream of water. The area where the water would have busted onto the jagged rocks below forms the wooden bench that students so casually sit on. The translucency of water is mirrors in its inch separations between the wood planks, and even a slight glint is found on the metal piping in the last rays of sunlight. From the second and third floor it becomes even more of a reality but with an artificial hint to it. The natural sunlight begins to shine through odd geometric angles and the image of an indoor waterfall somehow defies the unbound emotion of nature itself…” 2) Speculation - The material components of the installation consists mainly of long and curved segments of wooden planks and throughout the entirety of the structure, there are also screws, nuts, bolts, and other implements to keep it all connected and ordered. There are not very many scars or stray marks that could represent the construction process, yet the wear from students from the past years has left a weathered appeal, primarily to the bench and the area around it. The sheer size of it inside the building confines it to a smaller space and dwarves it and makes it seem so much smaller than it actually is. If it were stationed outside the building or among a much more confined and taller set of buildings, then it would have a much more dramatic and magnified effect. But if t were forced into smaller place, I feel that the force of its wholeness would become overbearing and unappealing. The very texture of the wood has two completely separate qualities. The sides of the panels have the smooth and flowing quality of water as described before, yet the shorter sides of the panels have a much coarser and scratchy appeal to them. The one thing that I wonder about is the actual design process of the piece. The way I saw it in a photo account is that no real machinery was used to install the objects; all that was effectively used was pure manpower. It seemed like it would have been easier to lift the pieces up with some lifting source, but it would have been massively impractical to be completed. All in all, the installation has become more than a form taking up a space on the atrium floor, but a usable and intrinsic piece of art. Plastic Installation: 1) Description – The first time I spent time to look over the large plastic installation outside was at 7:00 p.m. as I was about to leave the studio. Here is a passage from the notes I took. “…From outside the colossal polycarbonate resin installation mimics the look of a palm frond wafting in the wind or maybe even a sheet hanging on a clothesline on a breezy day. The paradox that arises with these images is that the molded, bolted, and transfixed figure in front of me is very much a product of meticulous planning and design. Whereas the images it evokes are directly from nature, spontaneous and much more free flowing than anything that man could hope to create. In the last couple rays of the setting sun, the plastic construct ripples and distorts the light into an imitation of a pebble being dropped into a pond. The feelings created by the man-made structure are strange and inviting and nearly identical to those of an unplanned phenomena or moment in nature…” 2) Speculation – The very material that the installation is made of is something that is kind of difficult to believe. That specific material, to me, is used for industrial purposes rather than for exclusively aesthetic appeals. The bolts that old all of the rigid waves together are rarely ever seen in the afternoon glow or the changing of the times. And the foundation of the installation forms a clean and neat bench-like area where all of the waves seem to pour out of. The way that the installation must have been made is a crazy thing for me to visualize because of all of the carefully planned angles, facets, and curves. The sheer force that it seems to funnel down into a single point and contain is astronomical, and my main question pertaining to this installation is what the designers were trying to express with its creation. My personal belief is that the students were trying to get an A, but on a more serious note I think that the motif could be expressed as an interpretation of their state of mind. A wild, spontaneous, and creative mind that was translated and harnessed into a corporeal form. The scale of the installation is massive by all accounts, set next to a house, a person, a car…they all are belittled by the sheer mass of it. Even in the enormity of the city, it still is large enough to make an impact on the perspective of passersby and the structures around it. The plastic was molded and shaped at superheated temperatures, the bolts were squashed together and fastened together, and then was finished as a completed modern masterpiece outside of the Architecture building. Entirely, the piece represents something to the designers, the students of GT, and the instructors, but to me it symbolizes something more…something free. Link to this Page
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