Martin, Chris : Assignments

Martin, Chris : Assignments

Edit Martin, Chris : Assignments here.

Fifth Street Cudda Wudda Shudda

It does not matter if you live in the big city, or a small town r a busy suburb one thing will remain the same. You have to travel across a street to get anywhere. A street is a system that plays a pivotal role in shaping the way we navigate through our lives. It serves many purposes that may go unnoticed. All of these though can be maximized through thoughtful decision making.
A street is most obviously the means for traveling from place to place. This is a primary function that does not escape planners or engineers. Factors that influence this functionality are the streets surrounding it. There are many things to consider. The street could get you from point A to B but in order to do so you may have to travel through many streets that are both one and two way. The one-way streets might be used to give priority to a neighboring street where the traffic flow is much heavier. They may also serve to proportionally reduce time spent in traffic and give each vehicle an equal traveling distance in a given space. An example of these networked one-way streets is a roundabout or a town square. Atlanta is made up of many one-way streets to minimize traffic flow and lane width. It is also important to understand the streets combination with multi lane roads with traffic flow in both directions. This intersection of roads with different number of lanes could have a big impact on the amount of traffic that passes through during the day. A two-lane road could yield to more efficient traffic patterns if it intersects with a similar road. The size of the road and number of lanes are important deciding which road woud be the primary means of travel. The more lanes usually means that congestion on that road is higher and it is more commonly used. Of course instinctively cars will try to avoid these busy roads and seek detours along the way. These detours will soon be busy with cars and traffic flow will be moderate once again. A successful street keeps in mind all of the possible directions traffic could go and designs the neighboring streets in accordance.
Fifth Street has been the subject of many debates. There are mixed feelings about what type of street it is to become. Fifth street stretches into two different parts of town and it is obvious that it is split into two main sections. These sections include the area before the bridge to Klauss, and the area after the bridge to Biltmore. Analyzing the effect of streets passing through Fifth Street emphasizes this division. As fifth stretches towards the Klauss building, both Fowler and Techwood cross it. These lanes are of the same width and the traffic flow is similar on all three roads. As traffic slows to cross the intersection and the light times for all sides is evenly spaced. It is a very successful means of transportation. However, on the bridge, the traffic begins to change. Because of the increase in businesses in the area, more cars use this space. These cars are heading to areas outside of campus, and trying to get deeper into Atlanta, unlike students who only uses Fowler and Techwood to get out of class or move around campus. Traffic moves significantly slower on upper Fifth due to two main factors.
First off there is a small strip of roadway directly after the bridge which is tucked very far back. The cars that use this road have to slow down significantly to approach. This area is also not marked with a light so; it depends on the speed of the traffic approaching how hard it will be to make a left or right turn. This causes a slow down of cars on the bridge in the outer lanes. The inner lanes will however travel at their regular speeds. Soon the cars on the outside will begin to move into the middle lane. This merger is very costly to the effect of cars traveling down the street. The cars begin to remain a constant speed but are quickly stopped at Spring Street. This one-way road consumes much of the intersection and the light time. Fifth street travelers wait much longer than needed because of this fact. Fewer cars begin to pass through and traffic is slow. As a functional network of streets the upper Fifth Street has many undesirable intersections and therefore is not an effective street for travel through Atlanta.
Another way to look at Fifth Street is its functionality as a single street. The first thing to discover is the constant lane changes from two to four and then back to two again. This causes confusion among travelers spanning the entire street. The markings are clearly visible and the transitions are not unnoticed. It is a viable way to switch the width, although it seems to be unneeded. This could perhaps be because of the existing width of the street was used instead of modifying its size when they redid it. Another interesting thing to note is the use of bikes on Fifth Street. Up until the bridge there is a clear path marking the area intended for bikes. This is however very close to the sidewalk and the close proximity of the trees deters many from using this lane. Instead they turn to the sidewalk, which is not near enough the size needed for both pedestrian and bike travel. This collision of transportation could be avoided if the bike lane was made a little wider. Also Fifth Street is a major stop for the Tech Trolly. The road gives way for these stops and it does so with traffic flow continuing on. Further up the street is more busy and the trolly stops begin to impede on traffic and the flow of traffic moves much slower. This is because although the width of the street is similar throughout the street, parallel parked cars line both sides of the road. These cars consume an entire two lanes. Now trollys will have less room to stop. The parallel parking is necessary for the addition of restaurants and shops but it makes the traffic flow much slower.
Another function of the street is its ability to inform us of the street that came before. New sidewalks may be adjacent to faded asphalt and street markings. These nuances tell the story of how improvements were made or maybe how problems arose. Fifth Street is an example of this mainly with its subtle imperfections. Throughout lower Fifth fire hydrants are not level with the ground and telephone poles seem to not be fully bolted down. Each of these shows that Fifth Street was more elevated and the new sidewalk was lower than the existing one. Also along the side of the sidewalk there are areas where the sidewalk doesn’t quite meet up with the existing walkways. Upper Fifth Street is very new in appearance and the existing street that was there before is covered up. The traces are hidden by intricate brick work and new green life. Almost everything is new and it all plays a part in being a social scene.
A very important factor in deciding how effective a street will be is by looking at it as a social space. Pedestrians are the most important people to consider since they will be the ones who use the space the most. The street is once again divided into two means of use. The bottom half seems to be void of any pedestrians at all. There are the occasional person or two during times when class is about to start. But for the most part it is not used unless school is in. The cars make up most of the travel and bikes dominate the sidewalk speeding downhill. There is no definitive social space because the strip has no seating. The groups cannot gather also because of the impeding bikers and the narrow walkways. The other half of the street Is significantly different. Instead of cars dominating the space it is the people who regain control. The sidewalk is wide with many places to sit. The benches also face away from traffic and toward passerby’s and storefronts. The pavement is littered with signs that invite the people to come and stay for a drink or a cheap haircut. Tables are placed in a nearby plaza in front of the Centergy building. Each of these areas allow people to congregate with one another and have a social meeting. Special events are held in the plaza and the open area combined with the seating make it a very effective social space. Because the plaza is in the middle of major businesses, the distance is right for anyone to walk right in and sit down. The corners of the streets are wide and completely covered with brick to differentiate it from other parts of the sidewalk. It is solid to ensure that this space is a separate entity. This is because the majority of meeting people happen at the corner of the streets. Fifth Street is effective in giving people a place to stay but there could be some strategies put into place to attract more pedestrians. The plaza for instance has many low ledges that are just thin enough for someone to avoid sitting down. Making these slightly wider increases the sitting space and thus the amount of people who would use this space. Many benches are placed just slightly to far to make socializing with those next to you a chore. The table n the plaza offer movable seating but the close proximity of the fastened tables means that the freedom of where you would like to sit is somewhat limited.
An interesting part of Fifth Street is the bridge. It seems to follow none of the same incentives as the other two parts of the street. It is an excellent buffer to the highway noise underneath. It separates the noise from the conversations and the greenery allows for a more pleasant landscape. The benches span across the bridge that allow for seating, and the shade that the terraces offer shield you from the sun. The noticeable thing is that no one uses the seating. There is an occasional shoe tier who rests his foot on the bench or a runner who might lean against to take a break. But the bridge consists mainly of foot traffic. I think it has something to do with the large span of the bridge. As you sit you expect that the busy traffic will be facing you and that your scenery will never change. It is not an exciting place to be. The shops of upper fifth provide entertainment and the people around you are not directly in adjacent to you. This comfort space is not on the Fifth Street bridge. A pedestrian would walk right by someone else sitting and they would have a almost come in contact with one another. The wide walkway near the shops offers more comfort and you feel more secure. Security is also lost in the openness of the bridge. The tall buildings in upper fifth cascade a shadow and offer an enclosure. The trees next to you offer the same protection. The bridge is an open environment and very large. It has no barriers that enclose you. The cars flying by are not shielded by any plant life. The bridge does not offer the same experience, as does upper fifth. This does not mean that it will never. As the trees begin to grow more shade will fall on the bridge the trellis will get covered with vines offering more protection from the rain. The people will start to socialize on the green space and perhaps there will be a small structure on the lawn to enclose more people. The Fifth Street bridge could become an effective way of escaping the busy Atlanta roadways, but it is not now.
The division of Fifth Street is marked by the bridge but both lower and upper Fifth still shows signs of volume and subdivision. Lower fifth is divided by the two roads it crosses. The trees give the place a sense of space and the walls on the skirts of the walkway enclose the space. The walkway is a concrete that is decorated with a square pattern of brick. This is a good strategy to tie in the brick walkway of upper Fifth. It has three main divisions. The all brick is to separate the public sitting area. The concrete is the main walkway, and finally there is a small line to indicate private building space. The tall buildings enclose the space and give the area a unique volume. The buildings are similar in height and this uniformity helps hold the street together. The only thing that breaks up the line of the buildings is the gated areas for seating outside the restaurant. Although they are necessary they restrict flow of the pedestrian traffic and they jut out to ruin the consistency.
Fifth Street is plagued by the areas that it crosses. It will never be an unvarying street that can be friend to pedestrians on all sides. It simply has two main functions, that restrict it from enjoying the consistency that other streets share. Lower Fifth prioritizes cars that need to travel across campus. Upper Fifth is a great social scene for people to come and shop and enjoy lunch on their breaks. The cars will continue to struggle to pass through. The bridge willl continue to struggle to become the place it was intended for, a sunny green landscape that will enjoy the company of many people for many years.

Assignment 10.28

Architecture Lecture

The focus of this lecture was to give more information on the extendend field of architecture. This lecture was used to help students of the CFY decide what career path they wold follow. The slides described the profession the program at Tech and the process of becoming an architect. A major point brought up was the difference between architecture and a "building."

This question was given to introduce various questions that are discussed and developed in the College of Architecture. One is "how should we build here and now?" the answer to this depends on what time the building is being designed. You design for a purpose but that purpose changes based on how society is evolving. Like William Churchill said, "We shape our buildings, then they shape us" It is important to understand how they accomplish this. Buildings shape us by dividing public and private areas. This could convey that their is a division between class structure. Also buildings shape our vision of the world. Another interesting idea brought up apperaed in the course outline: the Velux competition. Velux is a major company who speacialize in roof windows, skylights and blinds. The competition is held during the spring of junior year during the community in light discoveries. The compettion would definitely help furthur studies in that field.

The major point in this lecture was the Similarities and differences between a building and architecture. This idea was conveyed by breaking down this broad idea into two main points. how should we build, and what affect is it having on the world. Buildings cannot fall between any of those categorie. So, although a warehouse helps the company that it serves, all of them are built the same and no one of them has any major impact on the world around us. Hagio Sophia, a large cathedral mentioned in the lecture does fit these descriptions. It describes hoe the people of that time period built and its massive walls and open spaces are still influenceing early architects today.

Building Construction

This lecture was introducing building construction to CFY students. Some important ideas were the definition of stake holders, life cycle phases, and types of construction. Stake holders was defined by Mr Kangari, the BC director as major people who directly affect the outcome of the build process; architects, engineers, owners and even suppliers. The life cycle phases are th esteps that a building will go through from conception to construction to decommisioning. It is important for these to follow in a proper order because often tasks build on one another such as, starting construction is impossible if the design is not finished. The types of construction are dependent on how the stake holders and the phases relate to one another. If an owner requires his project tobe heavily managed chances are he/she is not looking for residential or very basic construction. The building types include residential, industrial, educational, commercial and engineering.

I did not know what engineering building consisted of. I know understand that it is not so much an engineering building, as it is major engineering projects in a building, such asw elevator systems and varios electrical systems. I was confused on what fragmentaion in the BC industry was. It is the division of the architect, engineer owner contractor etc. this division prevents a project to be produced effeciently. It is necessary fo all of these people to work closer together. I found out that often work is simply outsourced to other companies around the world and hardly ever collabarate with each other. This is something that i feel Tech can help with because their architecture program and BC program are a division of the same college. I was also confused about the difference beteween a contractor and a sub contractor. I discovered that the sub contractor relates directly to the contractor who then deals with the owner. The sub contractor may handle only a small portion of the job such as plumbing or mechanical work.

The mai focus of this lecture was to explain the relationship between the different aspects. Thse being the Phases, types and stake holders, mentioned above. The lecture was organized in a way as to only show one aspect at a time. each was explained and then related to another part of the puzzle. I feel that it was really effective in stressing how important the collaboration of these individual projects are to the building as a whole.

Industrial Design Lecture

The lecture discusses many parts of ID but some that really stuck out were, work objects and sensual objects,. The work objects emphasizedesigning in order to serve a demanding purpose. These help to maximize the work done in construction, for example. You reall have to design not only for functionality but also durability. The sensual objects are those that give joy. This could be an actual toy for a baby, or a intrically curved table that is pleasing to the eye. I feel that this category controls most of the market because it is so broad in range and reaches many people.

I was not sure what cognitive reffered to. It is the process of thinking intelligently and in terms of design it filling a need by finding a problem. A catalyst i design is an event that speeds up a part of the manufacturing process or design process. Such as automated manufacturing or an idea sparked by collabaration with people. ID is not only "industrial" but also residential , engineeringand commercial design. I found that its scope is much more wide than i had imagined.

The lecture focused on the four "d"s of ID: Define Discover Design and Deliver. Each one is in that order. Each builds on one another. To define is to analyze the object and the think cognitivelly. When that takes place, a problem si found that onemust define. Inorder to be effectivfe you must design to convey your thoughts too others. Finally to take you idea to the next level and give it to the world then you must Deliver. This is the manufacturing part of the process

Bibliography Assignment 5

Bergeron, Angelle. “Builders Bet On Modular Construction; The next big thing in New Orleans will be truckloads and barges of big housing components.” ENR. New York, Sep 10, 2007. 10

Broadcasting & Cable. “Katrina's Lasting Effect”. New York, Aug 27, 2007. 26

Brown, John S. “The Army and Humanitarian Relief.” Army. Arlington, Feb 2006. 103

Brown, Joseph E.; Caldwell, Kenneth. “New Orleans: One year after Katrina.” Urban Land. District of Columbia, 2006: 40 – 45

Bush, George W. “Remarks on Hurricane Katrina Recovery Efforts in New Orleans.” Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. Washington, Sep 3, 2007

Clark, Joshua. Heart Like Water: surviving Katrina and life in its disaster zone. New York: Free Press, 2007.

Curiel, Tyler J. Murder or Mercy? “Hurricane Katrina and the Need for Disaster Training.” The New England Journal of Medicine. Boston, Nov 16, 2006. 2067

Dach-Gruschow, Karl, Hong, Ying-yi.” The Racial Divide in Response to the Aftermath of Katrina: A Boundary Condition for Common Ingroup Identity Model.” Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy : ASAP. Oxford, Dec, 2006. 125

Deluca, Salvadtore. “The 50 percent solution? Uncertainty and the fate of New Orleans' historic houses.” Preservation: the magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. District of Columbia, January, 2006: 14 – 15

Duffy, Jim. “Rewiring New Orleans.” Network World. Framingham, Aug 14, 2006. 32

Floca, Mellisa. “How will the rebuilding be finaced?”. Urban Land District of Columbia, 2006: 100 – 102

“Focus on the Future in Louisiana.” New York Times, March 22, 2007

Giroux, Henry A. Stormy weather : Katrina and the politics of disposability. Boulder, Colo. Paradigm Publishers, 2006.

Ginsburg, Faye. “Ethnography and American Studies.” Cultural Anthropology. Washington, Aug 2006. 487

Gray, Bradford H. Hebert, Kathy. “Hospitals in Hurricane Katrina: Challenges Facing Custodial Institutions in a Disaster.” Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. Nashville, May 2007. 283

Inskeep, Steve. “Analysis: Evacuees were turned aay at Gretna Louisina.” Morning Edition. Sept. 20, 2005

Kristina M Cordasco, David P Eisenman, Deborah C Glik, Joya F Golden, Steven Asch. "They Blew the Levee: Distrust of Authorities Among Hurricane Katrina Evacuees.” Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. Nashville, May 2007. 277

Klein, Naomi. “Now the real Looting Begins: Purging the Poor.” The Nation. New York, Oct 10, 2005. 15

Lawton, Kim. “Two Years after Katrina.” The Christian Century. Chicago, Sep 18, 2007.

Mcarthy, Kevin. “The repopulation of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.” Technical Report. Santa Monica Ca, 2006

Pedersen, Martin C. Metropolis. New York, 2007 July – Aug. 38 - 44

Dr. Ratard. “Public Health after Katrina’s rule.” Rollins School of Public Health, 2006

Rose, Chris. 1 Dead in Attic. New York, Simon & Schuster paperbacks, 2007

Sever, Megan. “Levee Concerns Abound.” Geotimes. Alexandria, Dec 2006. 12

Solnit, Rebecca. “The lower ninth fights back.” The Nation. New York, Sep 10 - Sep 17, 2007. 13

The Economist. Special Report: When government fails - Katrina's aftermath.” London, Sep 10, 2005. 25

Tynes, Brendesha. Hunter, Carla. Neville, Helen A. Coleman, Nicole M. "Bush Doesn't Care About Black People: Race, Class, and Attributions of Responsibility in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.” The Black Scholar. San Francisco, Winter, 2006. 32

Weems, Carl F. Watts, Sarah E. Marsee, Monica A. Taylor, Leslie K. “The psychosocial impact of Hurricane Katrina: Contextual differences in psychological symptoms, social support, and discrimination.” Behaviour Research and Therapy. Oxford, Oct 2007. 2295

Yee, Roger “Here today, gone tomorrow: turning points in public perception of design.” Oculus. New York, 2005 – 2006. 40 – 41

Zell, Jennifer. “Visions of green: what role will parks and open space play in a rebuilt New Orleans?” Landscape Architecture. District of Columbia, 2007: 100 - 103

Assignment 4

Lecture 9.17

This lecture takes on the issue of architecture and its impact on our physical well-being. It focuses on the ability to let architecture shape our selves, physically and mentally. A slide show was used to present the many studies and real world examples of architecture that has helped improve the body. These examples were mainly, hospitals and staircases. Important terms are the three types of physical activity: intentional, incidental, hybrid.

The different types of physical activity are the first things to identify when trying to decide how to make architecture more beneficial. Intentional physical activity is just like it says. When you plan to exercise, this is intentional. Placing a workout center on the lobby is a way of making physical activity intentional in the workplace. Incidental exercise is achieving the benefit of exercise through an activity that you do not do for the sole purpose of working out. Gardening is a great way to achieve this. Hybrid activity is getting physical exercise from daily activities. The use of the staircase is an example of this.

As an architecture major I feel this way of integrating physical activity and buildings is a great way of controlling the environment of the workplace. I think that the selected profession that is incorporating these ideals will be much happier and more productive. This lecture shows how the architecture field is becoming more of a way to become an assistive service in not only building design but also social morale. It is a subject that should be integrated into studies before the idea of proper design.

Lecture 9.19

Ruth Dusseault had a deep conviction for the process of an urban area to an empty plot of land. This is shown through her numerous pictures of the demolition of Atlantic steel and the recent construction of Atlantic station. Her video at the begging immediately hooked me and I felt her attachment to the material she presented. Some important ideas I left with were, modernism, macro engineering and the photography of Brend and Hilla Becher.

Modernism is the idea of incorporating classical styles with more modern philosophy. The classics are not wrong therefore it makes sense that they should be brought back. The chimney in Atlantic station is a great way to incorporate the past architecture with the new development. Macro engineering is the development of large-scale projects and the management of the resources and technologies that are required to complete such a demanding undertaking. Atlantic station was macro engineered because of the complexities of the different uses that the area would be used for: residential, shopping, and business. Brend and Hilla Becher’s photographs match the emotion that Ruth put into her words and her documentation. I really feel the emotion of the older buildings and the somber mood that is presented when looking at these older installations.

The documentation of older buildings can tell us a lot about he successes that were had in the past. These successes could b carried over to assist the builders of today. I feel that architecture is becoming more of an art form and the photos really represent the art in a still frame. Teaching students to have a great appreciation for the existing structures can change the way many feel about development and control the rate at which it is being done.

Lecture 9.26

This was a presentation on the works of Palladio. Sonit Bafna focused on Palladio’s background of architecture and his impact on the discipline. Sonit, although hard to understand, displayed Palladio’s ideals in an easy to follow slideshow of beautiful photographs. There were many terms that were important: grandiose, cornice lines, rotunda, and indefinable quality.

Grandiose is magnificent in scale and detail. This is definitely true for the works of Palladio. His breakthrough architecture style showed intricate designs and sculpture. It was more of an art form. His layouts contained massive courtyard and soaring columns.
Palladio introduced cornice lines. These are structures that are on top of buildings and under windows that span the entire length of the building. This is important because it helps tie buildings that are not attached together. This shows how much Palladio cared about architectural form. If something is indefinable it cannot be expressed with words. This is something that I want to experience. It think that Palladios buildings have this quality because they are so old and yet the epitome of how architecture should be thought through.

I think that the architecture discipline has already learned a lot from Palladio. Professionals use his ideas in many of their projects. I don’t feel that students know it well enough. There should be a push to expose him to all kinds of students, science math and construction because of the impact he had on all these areas.

Assignment 3

Lecture 9.10

This lecturer discussed disability research, and the major technology advances in this field. Through the discussion of different research centers and the development of assistive technology, he was able to convey its importance. He also gave examples of new advancements in wheelchairs. Some important terms are disability, assistive technology, and anthropometry.

It is important to understand what a disability consists of. According to southwest ADA center it is “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities.” These life activities consist of “caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.” With the number of ways you can be disabled, it is important to have the number of research centers that are available.

Assistive technology is the technology that helps performs these disabled life functions. It is the comfort silverware, or the wheel chair ramp or one hand jar opener mentioned in he lecture. Finally, anthropometry is the scientific study of the human body, its proportions and measurements. This was an essential study in the development of the off loading wheelchair cushion. It was needed to understand the load that your body carries in various positions.

The profession is obviously helping the disabled but how else are the disabled informing the profession? What roles do students have in the research and development process? After a new advancement is introduced, how does the population begin to use it? Finally, how can teachers not involved in the field directly do more to assist in disability research?

Lecture 9.12

The lecturer focused on the sector of construction. It was a detailed tour of the industry and its evolution. Using statistics he described common misconceptions of construction, and through a short tutorial of the history of construction he made the audience aware of where construction is headed. Some key terms were, fragmentation, vertical integration, ephemeral, procurement, and litigation.

Fragmentation is the process of breaking something into smaller parts. This is important because construction is made up of many individual with different skills; masons, electricians, plumbers, etc. vertical integration is when a company owns the all aspects of their production. Many construction companies own the steel that they use, and the lumberyards that provide the wood. Ephemeral is taken a short time for something. This is the main focus of design build, a new approach to construction and building. Design build is bringing all of the steps of completing a building into one task to minimize time of completion.

It is important to understand construction but how would professionals in the industry learn from one another. How could different companies come together to speed up the process? Is it more beneficial to own the materials that you use or would it be more beneficial to allow other companies to work with you? As a student what can I learn to integrate architecture and construction? How has the idea of construction evolved as a result of technological advances?

Lecture 9.14

The final lecture was about geographic information systems and the research that you could use remote sensing models for. The presentation mainly focused on the lecturers past studies. There was a major focus on the uses in the field of civil planning. Different information was used, aerial photography, thermal and infrared sensing, and system dynamics.

Thermal images are images that display the heat of a certain object. These studies help planning because certain materials use more heat and it is crucial to be efficient with the material you use. Infrared is a bigger group that thermal imaging is contained in. Also in this group is the detection of wireless communication. Infrared is what remote sensing is based upon. Aerial photography is the photography of location from high above, usually satellite. A good example of this is google earth. With the addition or infrared imaging, you could see the detail of a certain area and also the heat it gives off.

Do economists; use this system in their goal to protect the environment. If other disciplines knew of this system would things be built more efficiently? What can infrared teach me about the use of a space in a certain building? What advancements are being made to get this research out to the public, like google earth?

Assignment 2

8/29/07

The first lecture was an introduction for the masters program in classical architecture. There was a major focus on the students who participate in this course and how they integrate classical architecture into their current professions. Each graduate student had a digital presentation prepared which assisted in conveying their thoughts on the importance of integrating classical architectural styles. They accomplish this by comparing historic classical buildings with their own design firm’s projects. Important terms that were introduced were classical architecture, sustainability, and “green” buildings.

Firstly it is essential to understand what classical architecture is. Almost impossible to trace a beginning or end, it is an early period where architecture was being defined with elaborate decorations, arches and domes, buildings made of stone, brick and even marble. These buildings were designed with the intent of fulfilling its purpose without technology, synthetic building materials, and only what nature provided. This period or architecture is connected with another important idea. That is the ability to make buildings “green.”

According to the U.S Green Building Council, a building is green if it follows a certain criteria: “sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.” Green buildings are a major way of protecting the future of the environment. It is the current trend and classical architecture plays a big part in that future.

Classical architecture is spreading as an important tool to bring nature back to building design. More and more uses are being found for this design style, from green projects to decorations for million dollar homes. The profession is expanding as a need for it increases. As more people realize the importance or classical architecture the need for a background will increase. Finally, there are many schools teaching classical architectures. Some of these schools also have international programs.

8/31/07

The second lecture was the first look at an ongoing project known as The Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon is a contest sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, that asks students to design, construct and operate an aesthetically pleasing, but solar powered, efficient home. Apart from explaining the contest, this lecture focused on the sustainability of homes and the process from design to build, this is done by showing the various problems encountered within the project and a brief explanation of the criteria. Some of the more interesting points brought up were sustainability, design build, grey-water and architectural form

Sustainability is the idea that buildings need to be energy efficient. Efficiency through the materials that are used and the way the building controls energy. Sustainable design is connected with the trend of making “green” houses. Design build is a process where the design, planning, permit and construction are all combined into one “master build.” This collaboration does not shorten the time it takes to complete each individual project but instead, all these individual tasks are finished sooner because everything is happening at the same time.

The design build discipline is not a new concept. It has been used a way of creating emergency shelters and it is also allowing cities to expand quickly, because now one firm can handle almost all aspects of the build process. The implication of solar cells to most buildings is still an expensive concept for major companies to incorporate, but professionals know it is an essential tool if the environment is to be utilized in the future. It is great that this decathlon is being used to immerse students and teachers in the design build environment and also influencing how sustainable design is taught, and implicated.

9/05/07

Through a well thought out presentation this lecture informed me about digital design and the design process. The presenter compared various installations that he had taken part in, and with each one he discussed the problems, the questions that were raised, and the process in which each was designed and built. The digital design is really just now starting to emerge due to the surge in technology and will surely become a new way of designing. Some important key terms are iterative, nonstandard, combinatorics, viperoscity and parametric modeling.

Combinatorics is a design theory that uses math equations in order to find a way to construct a system of finite sets where each intersection has a specific numerical classification or property. This has much to do with the idea of parametric modeling. Often called feature based modeling, this is the act of placing constraints on a certain three dimensional object. These constraints will change based on the dimensions of an object. It is way to specify certain properties that an object must follow and to ensure that it does this no matter how many times dimensions are changed.

The discipline for digital design is actually replacing standard drafting practices, because of how much more efficient it is. The future is digital design and soon it will be the new standard if it is not already now. Professionals know that in order to run the most productive business that the plans and designs must be done digitally. Programs can now let you render in 3d and change a project down to every minute detail withut having to start over or lose time. Teachers also understand the need for skills in digital design and are making the new curriculum a digital one.

Assignment 1

Installation 1 (outside)

Description

When first looking at this installation your first feeling is one of awe. It seems impossible that something this complex could actually be constructed. From afar you notice how the structure seems to wrap itself around the column and surrounding building face. A structure so unusual, that from across the campus you only get small glimpses of it, and it forces you to walk closer to examine what it could possible be. As you begin to approach, you notice the smooth flowing lines and the rigid material. The installation shows incredible texture, and the shadows immediately add to the beauty of his piece of art. Slowly the impossible tangle of lines starts to become clear, and more and more details come into view.
It seems to be made of a plastic polycarbonate. A soft material that is not as rigid as was first preconceived. It is attached by a network of rivets and bolts. Although they seem to have not been intended in the original design, their effective placement does not take out of the natural beauty of the installation. It is though it is constructed with similar pieces of the same design and shape. This would explain the symmetrical appearance. On the base all of the plastic is stacked very precisely. This seems to be the logical place for the construction to begin.
Feeling the smooth plastic exterior it is strange how the installation can portray a rough texture from afar. The sense of movement that shows itself through the installation is amazing. Everything is constantly moving and flowing. Even the stacked base is arranged in an oblique fashion. The highest point seems to be made of finger shaped pieces. This gives an impression of a hand reaching out. It would most definitely help the object continue the strong sense of motion even as the installation seems to end.
The installation is most definitely a piece of art. The shadows at all times of the day branch out and continue to envelope the surrounding space, from the lawn to the building exterior, with its incredible flowing lines. An interesting feeling was felt as I walked underneath. During the hottest part of the dealt I felt immediately cooled and refreshed. As if I was walking into the ocean. And upon leaving I became hot once again. It is a very moving piece of art.

Speculation

One can only imagine what motivation were involved in this undertaking. I believe it is the natural feeling to succeed. This installation definitely does this. It succeeds as both as a wonderful edition to the architecture building, but also as a piece of art. Art and architecture frequently cross paths and I feel this a perfect example of this.
I believe that an organic theme was intended for this project. The way the top of it seems to be modeled after hands and how it is a network of flowing lines, much like a waters surface. If I had to name this drawing I would call it summers escape; mainly because of the refreshing feeling I received when I walked underneath. I would really like to see what different feelings it gave me in the winter.
I would imagine that something like this should be displayed in front of the new World of Coke. Other than the bottle shape it also has a refreshing effect on you and its modern style fits in with the landscape of the surroundings at The World of Coke.

Installation 2 (inside)

Description

Upon entering the building the first thing you will notice is the wooden structure reaching to the ceiling. Next you begin to follow the smooth lines down to the floor where you see a few people sitting comfortably on the bottom. The bench at the bottom makes this a multiuse installation. Looking at the installation as a whole you notice that the individual strips of wood stretch across three floors. After every floor the wooden seems to ripple outward as if there was some unseen obstacle that it must avoid. Walking around you can see that each strip is spaced apart. What once was a mass of wood is actuality individual pieces that allow light to shine through giving the installation a transparent effect. Following up with your eyes the lines seem to disappear in front of the windows and then reappears again further up.
Inevitably the first thing you would do is sit upon its smooth sanded surface. While sitting the mall details would begin to present themselves. Each strip of wood is cut in pieces and pieced together. Each piece is marked to ease in installation. However, up higher the boards seem to have been made backwards. This means that cuts are showing that shouldn’t have showed up. It does not distract from the overall feel of the installation. The light colored wood looks as if it is a teak wood, and the wood material stays constant throughout out the structure.
Visiting every floor and walking under the installation presents you with a different feeling. From the bottom looking up it looks as if he wood stretches upward infinitely. On the first floor it feels if you are enveloped. Finally the third floor gives you the best view of the flowing lines, heading straight to the floor. A unique part of this installation is the small crevices found on the bottom near the benches. I think this does not interrupt your eyes from the flowing shape, but changes your direction so that you feel something different every time you look at it.
Speculation
I think the main motivation of this installation is to create a unique experience to the viewer. The bench allows it to be useful in the space that it is formed around. The flowing lines are pleasing to the eyes and every time you look at it you get a little more out of it. It is really amazing how a material such as hard wood could be bent and manipulated, then repeated to create seamless lines. I think that this was the hardest part of the construction
The installation seems to represent water cascading down the three levels. Each level the wood changes directions like it was liquid. Although it is brown the spaces in between the wood give the feeling of transparency and seamless movement. The final indication of cascading water is the creases towards the bottom. It represents the divide that water would have if it ran into a rock or other obstacle. I think that an installation such as this would be called Cascade for the obvious reason of the cascading water.

Chris Martin

Link to this Page

official class list last edited on 15 September 2007 at 5:34 pm by 12.19.35.253

gone home.