        McCarthy, Anne : AssignmentsAnnie McCarthy Mitch Wood Architecture 1060 23 November 2007 The ancient invention of the street in Khirokitia is still prominent and essential to all cities today, and Fifth Street is no exception. The designers of the newly renovated Fifth Street have truly taken to heart the history and the purpose of the street. They did not treat this as a way to improve the movement of people, rather they treated the job of remodeling the street as an improvement upon the many social, economic, and political aspects that are part of a street. They addressed many of the larger issues which surround the street such as the social interactions that occur on a street, the transition of Fifth Street, public versus private ownership, public safety, and the building line. One aspect, which the designers cannot change but rather can only anticipate, is society’s acceptance of their design. The designers have done their part in preparing the street for its optimal use, and now it is up to society to make use of this amenity which is provided for them and designed around them. The author of “The Street” notes that “[t]he purposes of the street traditionally have been traffic, the exchange of goods, and social exchange and communication.” It is this observation which the Midtown Alliance, the Tech Square developers, the Department of Transportation, and the campus planners and architects of Georgia Tech had in mind when planning this street, and this thought process is made evident in the elements of the Fifth Street which society sees today. The most evident portrayal of this idea is the asphalt street itself; the designers devised an effective way to move traffic across I-75, including bike lanes and spaces for busses to pull off. There is also parking available in the areas near the shops and restaurants so that drivers can easily visit these places if they choose to do so. These shops and restaurants are what provide the “exchange of goods” aspect of this idea. The streets of downtown are what the design team had to deal with when planning out a revitalized Fifth Street. They could not simply work with a clean slate, but rather they had to work within the realm of the prior framework of the street system of Atlanta. When walking down Fifth Street, some things one would notice are the benches and the park which flank the Fifth Street Bridge over I-75. The benches and the park area are thoughtfully placed to foster social exchanges on the street. The street as a whole is an esthetically pleasing place; it looks clean and welcoming. One would think that this aspect of the street would encourage people to linger and have social exchanges. This clean, welcoming street also serves as an entrance to Georgia Tech’s campus from downtown Atlanta, and it benefits the campus to have this welcoming street as one of the first things people see at Georgia Tech. Fifth Street creates an inviting atmosphere for the campus as a whole. The transition into a prominent engineering college also had to be considered when redesigning Fifth Street, and the recent completion of the Klaus Building fostered that idea. From the Fifth Street Bridge one has a clear view of the Klaus Building straight ahead, and this makes the statement for which the design team was searching. The presence of the building as one enters the campus makes a phenomenal statement. The view of this building says to the visitor that he is here, in one of the top engineering colleges in the United States. The parties involved in the redesign also made certain that they addressed the issues of public versus private ownership. This is an issue which has plagued society since the invention of the street. Naturally, the building owners wanted a portion of the area which is now the street to be for their own good, and so the push of the private sector developed. The opposition was clearly the public sector, and this would encompass groups like Midtown Alliance, the Tech Square developers, the Department of Transportation, and the campus planners and architects of Georgia Tech. Their view is that “[t]he public good requires that the street space be kept open, accessible to all, and equipped for its functions” (“The Street” 191). The difference of opinions about the potential use of the very same space caused conflict between the two groups. In more recent years restrictions have been placed on how far is too far with regards to the private infringement into the street. Fifth Street clearly illustrates which space is private and which space is public; it is distinguished by the use of different paving materials. The private space is paved in concrete, and the public space is paved with brick. This simple use of different paving material solves the complicated debate of public versus private. There are still exceptions for areas such as gated neighborhoods where entrance is prohibited without residence or a pass; in opposition to these gated neighborhoods the author of “The Street” notes that “[t]he only legitimacy of the street is as public space.” The next subjects which the design team had to address were the ones regarding public safety, which ranges from containing rainwater to assuring a biker a safe ride. The maintenance of rain water is something that often goes unnoticed when it is successful, but when the water gets backed up and forms puddles, pedestrians tend to notice. A pedestrian on Fifth Street would not notice many puddles after a heavy rain, and this is due to the planners’ accuracy in their investigation and implementation of their efforts. Oftentimes the pedestrians are overlooked, but when it comes to their safety on Fifth Street, they are not. The sidewalks are wide enough to move large amounts of people, and this can be a major issue with sidewalks if it is there is not an adequate amount of walking space. If a sidewalk cannot move large amounts of people, then the pedestrians may migrate to the streets, and having people walking in the street is not safe. The planners also considered the biker by providing a bike lane. A bike lane provides safety for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers. The pedestrians do not have to look out for the occasional biker flying in from the rear, and motorists do not have to worry about getting stuck behind, hitting, or clipping a biker. This lane provides the extra room needed for the vehicles to safely pass a biker. Not every street has a bike lane, but a bike lane is extremely practical for Fifth Street because it is the entrance to a large college campus. Many students use bikes to get around campus, and part of the Georgia Tech campus is in fact across I-75 in Technology Square, which would require a student to bike up Fifth Street. Another aspect of college which the designers addressed is staying out late; it is commonplace for a college student to stay out late into the night. The group studying Fifth Street addressed this issue with the very common street lamp, but without the street lamps the safety of the students would be extremely compromised. Being out late in downtown Atlanta is far from safe, and the street lamps are a necessary precaution to the undesirable. The building line is another aspect which the designers had to take into account. The street and the building line have to be balanced in order to achieve the ultimate presence of a street, and so when designing Fifth Street and the bridge, the design team had to take many factors into consideration. This street spans through a college campus and though downtown Atlanta, so the space of this street had to be appropriate to run between fraternity houses and to run in front of a top of the line conference center. The space which a street creates is nothing without the buildings which line it, and so the feel of Fifth Street east of I-75 is completely different from that on the west side of I-75. Despite the different atmosphere of the two areas, they are linked. The design team successfully created a street which can span through downtown Atlanta and a college campus and still make a statement; they created a street which would flow between the two areas. The link between the two is the Fifth Street Bridge. This bridge provides a transition from the hectic downtown atmosphere to the college campus atmosphere. A college campus is a place many students call home, and thus the atmosphere of downtown Atlanta would not be welcomed by most on the Georgia Tech campus. This bridge provides a necessary link to the downtown community, and at the same time stops it where it is no longer welcome. The bridge provides grass space, wide sidewalks, and benches for students or business men and women to relax and have a conversation with a fellow student or co-worker. This space also provides the link between the two; this meeting of the business world and the college life allows students and business professionals to interact. The Fifth Street Bridge, all ten million dollars of it, provides an essential social and physical link. The author of “The Street” effectively put it when he said “[t]he street […] structures community.” The design team has created this effectual space and can now do nothing more than sit back and watch society’s use of their space. Whether society will make use of the tools is has been given in the design of this street space is not up to the designers any longer. This team has provided the society of downtown Atlanta with tools to make their lives easier and more enjoyable, and it is now up to them to take full advantage of this new space and its uses. Downtown Atlanta is a fast-paced, non-stop type of community, and this type of lifestyle does not allow one time to slow down and take a break. It is this time free of rushing around, meetings, classes, and unruly driving which must be taken to stroll down Fifth Street; all a person needs is a leisurely stroll to help them appreciate the magnitude of Fifth Street. With this walk one would realize that social interaction with a variety of members of society is not a bad thing, and in fact, it is an extremely good thing. If one would stop and observe how effectively the street transforms from a street in downtown Atlanta to a street on the Georgia Tech campus, one might realize the street for what it is and not simply a people mover. It is evident that the designers of Fifth Street truly understand the meaning behind a street and the fact that it is more than a roadway for vehicles, and that it is also a roadway for pedestrians, bikers, and exchange. They studied how the space interacted with the pedestrian, the biker, and the motorist individually within the context of downtown Atlanta and Georgia Tech. Through their work it is clear that these designers realized that the meaning of a street is beyond the physical street and that their definition of a street is not two lanes which move vehicles in two different directions; these designers have moved into the area of the undetectable. It is impossible to calculate how a person feels while in the space; these designers have designed a space that creates a feeling which cannot be pin pointed. This is a feeling which can only be experienced, and this group of people working together, pooling their knowledge, has designed a street which creates a feeling inside its user and has an enormous presence. The research and knowledge which the designers put into the design of Fifth Street is something from which society should learn because clearly they took the time to experience the space. That is all society needs to do is slow down and experience the space. Once this happens, the street which the designers dreamed of will be real, and their Fifth Street will be complete. Works Cited “The Street”- a reading from coolx 10/10/07 One of the most important ideas which Ellen introduces is that Architecture is not strictly the designing of buildings. She illustrates that Architecture is rather a matter of answering the questions “how should we build in the here and now?” and “what type of world are we shaping?” An Architect designs a building through answering these questions It is not some random design, but rather it is directly related to what is happening at that point un time in that place. TERMS: 1.Hagia Sophia is now a museum but previously a mosque. It was designed by Anthemius Tralles and Isodore of Miletus between 532 and 537 for the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. 2.Mies van der Rohe is thought to be one of the masters of modern architecture. He introduced the exposed steel structure and the idea of using glass to enclose a space. 3.Maya Lin is an artist best know for her work of designing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. QUESTIONS: Since there is such a wide range of social, economical, and political situations incorporated into the design and built environment, how does one studying architecture come to understand the need of each situation? How can this person best answer the questions which design poses? Perhaps it is a matter of experience, which is why this experience is necessary to acquire a job. Is it difficult for a professional to serve a wide variety of customers? Is it more common that a professional serve only a specific economic sector of the community, and thus have fewer differences in the circumstances under which she must design and answer these questions? Is it more common for a person to graduate, intern, and then come back for grad school, or to skip the internship and go straight to grad school? 10/15/07 Building Construction involves the questions of how one will design and construct a building and how people will operate in it. In the profession of building construction a person must be able to connect the three areas to produce a building efficiently. The construction manager represents the owner and deals with the designer and the constructor. TERMS: Dubai is the emirate which has the largest population and is the second largest by area in the United Arab Emirates, and it has some top of the line buildings planned. One of these buildings which will be completed in 2008 will be the tallest building in the world at 850 meters. The second tallest is only 509 meters. A construction manager represents the owner’s wants and needs while dealing with the designer and the constructor. It is important to have this middle man so that the owner gets what she wants and not what the designer and/or constructor wants. Construction documents are drawings and paperwork from the architect that specify details about the building. QUESTIONS How long has the idea of a construction manager been around? How far have we come/ how much further do we have to go with respect to the technologies involved in building construction? Is it easy for a professional to get a job in this field, or does its newness deter people from using a professional construction manager? Is it possible that people don’t want to spend that extra money upfront since they don’t realize that this could save them money? Does the BC program offer study abroad? 10/22/07 Industrial design is the design of products which aid in many aspects of life, and at the same time try to simplify the production process. Essentially, industrial design attempts to design products which improve life or redesign products in such a way that would make things easier. TERMS: People focused, in this context, means that the designer concentrates on how she can design a product which will enable a person to do something which he couldn’t do before. The social-economic focus of ID is to design products which are affordable to a wide variety of people in a variety of economic situations. An example of this is the $100 laptop; this affordable laptop will empower a person with fewer economic resources to have access to this information and opportunities which a laptop could provide. Branding is the visual information that makes something a part of a group. QUESTIONS: Does the study of ID become extremely specified? It seems as though it would have to in order to work successfully with product design. If so, does this specification occur before or after the formal education? I hear that it is harder for an ID student to get a job than the other, but that once they do get a job, it is very lucrative. Is this true about acquiring a job? If so, what can students do in order to get their names out into the business world so that they have a better chance of getting a job? sources: http://www.google.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org Bibliography "FEMA Adopts Key AIA Recommendations." THE NEWS OF AMERICA’S COMMUNITY OF ARCHITECTS 13(2006): Boniface, Russell. "Sustainable Family Center Under Construction in New Orleans." THE NEWS OF AMERICA’S COMMUNITY OF ARCHITECTS 13(2006): "Hurricane Katrina effects by region." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 27 Sep 2007, 16:18 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 12 Oct 2007 "Economic effects of Hurricane Katrina." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 3 Oct 2007, 12:07 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 12 Oct 2007 Sipes, James L. "Rebuilding the Gulf Coast: how landscape architects can use their digital skills to play a key role in the process." Landscape architecture 96.4 (Apr. 2006): 84. Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 11 October 2007. Olshansky, Robert B. "Planning after Hurricane Katrina." Journal of the American Planning Association 72.2 (Spring 2006): 147-153. Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 11 October 2007. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bvh&AN=587524&sit e=ehost-live>. Bruce Alpert. "GOP senators ask Bush to forgo veto ; 22 sign letter by Vitter supporting water bill. " Times - Picayune [New Orleans, La.] 5 Oct. 2007,03. National Newspapers (27). ProQuest. Georgia Institute of Technology. 11 Oct. 2007 Paul Rioux. "Researcher blames flooding of nursing home on levees ; He says St. Rita's should have been dry. " Times - Picayune [New Orleans, La.] 5 Sep. 2007,A.01. National Newspapers (27). ProQuest. Georgia Institute of Technology. 11 Oct. 2007 By Adam Aston & Michael Arndt, with Tom Sawyer of Engineering News-Record in New York, sta. "IF THE LEVEES FAIL IN CALIFORNIA.. :The economic cost would top Katrina's. But a new tool may prevent catastrophe. " Business Week 20 Aug. 2007: 36. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. Georgia Institute of Technology. 11 Oct. 2007 "Joint Center Forms Partnership to Bring More African American Voices Into Climate Change Debate. " PR Newswire 28 September 2007. ABI/INFORM Dateline. ProQuest. Georgia Institute of Technology. 11 Oct. 2007 William R Freudenburg, Robert Gramling, Shirley Laska, Kai T Erikson. "KATRINA: Unlearned Lessons. " World Watch 1 Sep. 2007: 14-19. Research Library. ProQuest. Georgia Institute of Technology. 11 Oct. 2007 Kennedy, Shawn, and James Murdock. "Remaking New Orleans, without losing its past." Architectural record 195(2007): McKee, Bradford. "New Orleans recovery plan released." Architect (Washington, D.C.) 96(2007): Russell, James S.. "Can New Orleans and the Gulf Coast face the hard questions?." Architectural record 194(2006): Mitigation Assessment Team, and United States Department of Homeland Security. Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast building performance observations, recommendations, and technical guidance : Mitigation Assessment Team report.. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, 2006. United States Department of Agriculture, and Office of the Chief Economist. A preliminary assessment of the effects of Katrina and drought on U.S. agriculture. Washington, D.C.: USDA/OCE, 2005. Fischer, Katherine. Dreaming the Mississippi. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 2006. Schwartz, Matthew. "Louisiana business publications find opportunity after Katrina." 01 Sep 2006 12 Oct 2007 The Associated Press, "Anything but 'Easy'; As 2nd anniversary of Katrina approaches, New Orleans' money woes, corruption and other challenges complicate its recovery." 26 Aug 2007 12 Oct 2007 . Warrick, Joby. "Washington knew about Hurricane Katrina's likely impact." 25 Jan 2006 12 Oct 2007 Landry, Cathy and Matt Spangler. "Months after hurricanes, 42 pipelines remain closed in Gulf; down from 64." 23 Jan 2006 12 Oct 2007 . Chu, Cathy. "Insurance costs become 3rd storm; Crushing burden for residents, businesses threatens recovery." 03 [ Apr 2007 12 Oct 2007 . Rodriguez, Havidan, Joseph Trainor, and Enrico L. Quanrantelli. "The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science." Rising to the Challenges of a Catastrophe: The Emergent and Prosocial Behavior following Hurricane Katrina Mar 2006 12 Oct 2007 . Atkins, David and Ernest M. Moy. "Left behind: the legacy of hurricane Katrina ." 22 Oct 2005 12 Oct 2007 Burby, Raymond J.. "The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science." Hurricane Katrina and the Paradoxes of Government Disaster Policy: Bringing About Wise Governmental Decisions for Hazardous Areas Mar 2006 12 Oct 2007 . < http://scholar.google.com/>. Sobel, Russel S. and Pter. T. Leeson. "Government's response to Hurricane Katrina: A public choice analysis." Apr 2006 55-73. 12 Oct 2007 . McCarthy, Kevin, D.J. Peterson, Narayan Sastry, and Michael Pollard. "The Repopulation of New Orleans After Hurricane Katrina." (2006) 12 Oct 2007 < http://scholar.google.com/>. Joseph Straw. "Homeland Security: Mass Evacuation: A Disaster Waiting to Happen. " Security Management 1 Mar. 2007: 32. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. Georgia Institute of Technology. 12 Oct. 2007 Colten, Craig E.. "Vulnerability and Place: Flat Land and Uneven Risk in New Orleans." Vol. 108, Iss. 4Dec 2006 731-734. 12 Oct 2007 Rentenaar, Karola and Jacquelyn Williams-Bridgers. "Disaster-Related Aid: Using Geographic Information in Audits." Oct 2006 12 Oct 2007 . Assignment #4 9/17/07- Architecture, Culture, and Behavior The speaker discusses the relationship between the built environment and human behavior. The speaker presents his ideas with statistics and examples in order to communicate his idea that a person’s environment has a great deal to do with his health. The two major aspects that he discusses are physical activity and healthcare. Terms- BMI- Body Mass Index, the ratio of a person’s height to their weight Previous to this lecture I knew that BMI had something to do with weight, but I didn’t know exactly what it was. There are no alternate meanings to BMI because it is this formula. Hybrid activity- Physical activity in which a person has the option to take the easier route, but takes the more intensive way perhaps because it is more pleasant. I thought that hybrid meant a mixture of sorts, and this was not entirely wrong. With the context of physical activity, however, it was not completely incorrect because in a sense the hybrid activity is a mixture of the intentional and incidental activity. A person may choose to take the stairs, which is intentional, but they choose it because it is enjoyable, which is somewhat incidental. Physical activity- At least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days of the week Previously, I thought that physical activity was any type of activity, but this lecture revealed to me that it is much more specific than that when considering an obesity problem. In most other contexts my definition would have been correct, but here the context is much more specific. Teaching/learning- In the study of Architecture, Culture, and Behavior how does the learning work out? Would a person have to study the health aspects of it as well, or would there be a separate person to supply that knowledge? Disciplines- If there are not a number of different professionals, then is there just one person who can apply all this knowledge? If there are a number of professionals, how well does this collaboration work? Professions- Do these principles at all hinder those discussed in the assistive technology lecture? Systems of organization and economic production- Is there a large market for the bettering of the built environment in order to benefit health, or would business owners rather take what they think is the cheaper way out? Is the change being widely accepted? 9/9/07- Photography Ruth discussed the idea that history should be preserved and that building from a clean slate is not acceptable. An area’s history should be remembered, and that is why she took up the documentation of the progress from the steel mill to Atlantic Station today. She feels that before and after is far inferior to the documentation of a process. She structured the speech with her photography of the process in order to show what would be missed if it were a simple before and after. Ruth discusses preservation and modernism at length. Terms- Utopian- something with ideal characteristics Here, Ruth refers to the utopian constructs in architecture. When she says this she is referring to an ideal architecture in which history is preserved and the progress is praised rather than the end points. I knew what utopian meant, but I associated it with its social references. Modernism- the sweeping away of the existing world and replacing it with what seems to be better I had a notion of what modernism was previous to the lecture, but I had not formulated a definition for it. Ruth tells us directly what modernism is, and it is quite different from the idea that I had of it. Google defines it as the international cultural movement after World War I expressing disillusionment with tradition and interest in new technologies and visions, but contextually it does not matter when it started. Vernacular- the typical architecture of the area; developed because of an ease of access to specific resources which are readily accessible Ruth discusses the fact that the shopping district uses the vernacular architecture of the steel mill. I previously associated vernacular with language, but not I understand that it can apply to a wide variety of aspects of an area. Teaching/learning- Where did you find the inspiration to document the process rather than the endpoints? Did this come of your own meditations, or is this something learned? Disciplines- Where else do you commonly find subject matter to which you can apply your ideas of documentation? Professions- Do you find much conflict, with regards to the law, when trying to photograph the progresses which you witness? Systems of organization and economic production- Do you find much of a market for your work, or is this mainly your own documentation, which you do not sell? 9/26/07- The Appeal of Palladio In this lecture the speaker attempts to bring his listeners to the knowledge of how brilliant Palladio’s work is. He says that there are two ways which can allow a person to see this brilliance. One is through the harmony of proportions, and the other is the indefinable quality which can only be experienced. He did this by showing us many of Palladio’s masterpieces, and explaining their significance. Some important terms are music theory, proportions, and visual engagements. Terms- Music Theory- the analyzing, classifying, and composing of music I knew that music theory had something to do with the study of music, but I had no idea it could be applied to other things. Palladio uses music theory in order to get the dimensions for his rooms. He used ratios for the dimensions of his rooms that have musical harmony. Plan- drawings which have a specific scale and are drawn as if viewing from above I learned what a plan was in studio, and so I knew that it was a detailed drawing from above. It did not strike me, however, until I reviewed my notes that Palladio had a major impact on the use of plans. It was because of his that a client didn’t have to visit the building in order to get a feel for it. Composition in planes- the designing of a building in layers I had never though of what composition in planes might mean, but when presented with the phrase, I understood what was meant by it. Palladio liked to design in planes, and within these planes he would create optical illusions which would give the feel of even more planes. Teaching/learning- Do architects still learn and use his ideas today? Disciplines- Where did Palladio learn the knowledge that he applied to architecture? Clearly these are mostly his own ponderings, but it seems that this must have been sparked by something else. Professions- We learned that Palladio worked for some of the richest and some who were not so rich. Was he someone to chase after with regards to the wealthy, and he simply worked for whoever and whatever they would pay him? Systems of organization and economic production- We also learned that many, many people have studied Palladio and discovered much about his works such as the relation to music theory. Did he not organized and record his ideas at all, or were they perhaps destroyed? Assignment #3 Annie McCarthy 1060 assignment #3 09/10/07 A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Disability Research In this lecture the speaker focuses on what is being done, what has been done, and what can be done to aid in the accessibility of the designed built environment for the disabled. The speaker presents this idea by giving the facts about the disabled, introducing assistive technologies, and explaining their logic. Two important terms are universal design appeal and specialized assistive technology. STEM- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics This acronym refers to study and education in these four areas. Many agree that they are part of the foundation of a successful nation. This idea that a country which is successful in these four areas seems to hold true, and the STEM fields are essential to getting the disabled out into the work force. If the STEM fields can develop assistive technologies that allow a disabled person to work, then our economy, and country as a whole, will prosper because there would be fewer people who cannot work to provide for themselves. Universal Design The general idea of universal design is that there should be a standard to which things are made. These standards would allow easier access for people with disabilities but would not cause them to need special treatment or to have to go out of their way. It would simply be built in order to be accessible to people with disabilities. The concept of universal design is to allow people with disabilities to lead a normal life without having to go into work the long way, or through the side door. Universal design standards would require that certain things be made certain ways. The speaker mentioned the idea that all checkout counters at stores would be made the uniformly and would be wheelchair accessible. This is the basis of Universal Design; the idea that a disabled person can readily access the things needed to live an average, everyday life. Assistive Technology Prior to the lecture I thought that assistive technology was technology which aided those with disabilities. Now, I have come to see that it is anything that aids in the lives of anyone. It is not limited to those with disabilities. A ramp, for example, is obviously of great aid to those who use wheelchairs, but it is also helpful to those who ride bikes. Questions Teaching/learning- The accommodation of teachers was mentioned, but how truly accommodating is the work field for a teacher who has a disability? How far has this assistive technology and universal design come? Disciplines- How is this body of knowledge learned? Is it simply through experimentation and observation, or is there some accepted definition among researchers of a disability? Does it vary from one researcher to the next so that collaboration may be hindered? Professions- How widely is the concept of a universal design being implemented? Economic Production- How economically feasible is it to ask everyone to convert what they already have to the universal design standards? Would everyone comply, or would you maybe enforce the standards on those developing companies? 09/12/07 AEC Integration- A View from the Center In this lecture the speaker focuses on why it is necessary to encourage AEC integration. He goes about this by discussing what construction is in order to be sure that he and the audience were on the same page. Then, he continues to discuss the specific characteristics, good and bad, of construction, what could be integrated, and how it should be integrated. The main concept that the speaker introduced was that integration is necessary and would be beneficial to all, the producers and the consumers. It is beneficial to the producer to conform to what the client wants because if he is pleased, then he will return. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) These are business undertakings which involve the government and at least one private company working together to accomplish something. This is pertinent to the concept of integration because this in itself is an integration of a private company and the government. It also allows for better integration among the different people who go into constructing a building because they must all work together in order to maintain the government aid, whatever it may be. Turnkey A turnkey is a project in which separate groups are responsible for getting their portion of the project ready for use. It is obvious that there is some collaboration going on in a turnkey, but there appears to be very little integration. The different groups are forced to discuss when and where things will occur, but the how is what is not necessarily discussed amongst the groups. This how is where integration would occur; if one group would question how something another group is developing works, then they may be able to simplify or improve it. Project Management Project managing is the act of organizing a project in such a way that it meets the constraints which the time, weather, client, etc. place on the job. It must also consider how to use resources as efficiently as possible. This is essential to integration because this is what integration strives to accomplish. Integration attempts to get as many different bodies working together as possible, which would in turn lead to efficiency because they would collaborate and discuss the best way to accomplish something among all of the professions. Questions Teaching/learning- How can schools change their curriculum in order to allow integration while maintaining the specialization that some fields require? Disciplines- Doesn’t it seem that integrating would create one huge mass of knowledge which must be learned, and if so, wouldn’t we end up separating the professions anyways? Professions- If integration was employed, would all of the jobs of those professions who were integrated be obsolete? Economic Production- How would integration affect the profitability of the construction industry? 09/14/07 Geographic Information Systems: Whenever Where Matters In this lecture the speaker discusses geographic information systems and how they help collect and store data. He presents this idea by explaining what GIS is and giving example of when it can be, or has been, used. One key term is Geographic Information Systems, and this is some kind of map with data that is linked to it. Remote Sensing Remote sensing is the use of some sort of satellite or radar in order to get information about something without being in direct contact with it. Remote sensing adds to the use of GIS and can be used to collect all sorts of information. This would gather the information and tie it to some sort of picture or map, which is what GIS is, a map with data tied to it. Impervious Surfaces Impervious surfaces are where buildings have been constructed and prevent the flow of rainwater through the ground. This is clearly an environmental concern. Impervious surfaces are of concern to GIS because this is something that GIS can be used to study. It is important to the water supply that the water is able to return to the underground reservoirs, and the data that the speaker showed us was being collected for the Georgia Water Authority. Enterprise Collaboration Enterprise collaboration systems allow companies to talk without being face to face. These are things such as the internet and video conferences. This encourages the sharing of data quickly and efficiently. It is easy to mistake something while on the phone, but if the people who are talking can see each other, they are less likely to have any misunderstandings. GIS is a part of this communication because it is this technology which links the two people in order to allow them to exchange ideas. Questions Teaching/learning- How does a teacher go about teaching his student when the field is so rapidly changing, or does the new research not effect what is being taught? Disciplines- Will this evolving technology change the roles of many of the occupations, such as architects and civil engineers, which now so greatly impact our environment? Professions- Will the constant growth of GIS technology create an increase in the number of jobs since it is becoming more and more an integrated part of the designed and built environment? Economic Production- Will the results of this technology create a smaller cost for the buyer? Assignment #2 Classical Architecture In the lecture on classical architecture, the speakers presented the class with ideas of what classical architecture is, what it looks like, and how it is integrated into our built environment today. The lecture as a whole presented this by calling on many different professionals in order to have them share how they integrate classical architecture into their work. One important concept that this lecture touched on is that just because a building is classical in design does not mean that it cannot be environmentally friendly. Another obviously important term which the speakers employed was classical architecture. Greek Revival Architecture is a style which lends itself to the Greek temples of fifth century BC, and it spread through the United States and Europe in the early nineteenth century. New Urbanism is a specific type of neighborhood design. It incorporates appropriate and environmentally safe architecture, pedestrian-friendly streets, and jobs for its residents. What is the advantage of producing hand drawings only as opposed to computer generated drawings? Obviously a goal of new urbanism is to provide well-balanced neighborhoods, but is there some higher meaning to the ideas? What bounds classical architecture and sets it apart from other styles? Solar Decathlon The speaker talked about his experience with the solar decathlon, but he was really dealing with a much larger issue than this competition. He addressed the issues that surround making our sustainable future economically feasible to the consumer. The speaker presented his argument by showing the class the progression of the solar powered house and what was put into it. Some of the key terms that he brought up were the zero energy home, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the integration of the systems. Mechanical operability is the ability to keep something, specifically the solar panels, functioning properly. The question with regards to the solar decathlon is whether or not the panels will be able to withstand the wear and tear and if they break, whether or not they can be fixed. Structural integrity is the quality of the building and the expectations that it will live up to the vision of the designers. Is there a distinct line between where a designer would forfeit architectural style for the performance of the building? Does the collaboration of the different disciplines cause problems with regards to the structure of the house? Do certain disciplines’ issues override others when considering a difficulty? Could this house also serve to be a person’s home? Could they live comfortably in it? Digital Design and Fabrication The speaker introduced the class to the massive impact that computers have had on our built environment. He portrayed his ideas by introducing many structures which called upon the aide of computers to design and build them, and he used the installations that we just finished studying as examples. In presenting the processes of the building of the installations, he showed the class how much computers helped in the design and building of each. Some of the important terms were linear design process, iterative design process, and “cadcam.” CNC, or computer numerical control, is the portion of the computer that deciphers codes in order to run the machine properly. Iterative design processes allow the designer to test certain aspects of the object, which he is designing, before actually beginning the assembly, and this is where computers are most helpful. Do you feel that this iterative design process has distanced the designer from his product, and if so, is this necessarily a bad thing? Are most projects designed entirely with the aid of computers, and if so, what if something goes terribly wrong with the computer? Is there a back up method? Is there some layer of complexity to the product which was brought on by a learned, hands on crafting? Does this missing layer detract from the products’ quality, and is it still necessary that students learn to hand craft? (definitions were taken from www.wikipedia.com and www.dictionary.com) Assignment #1 Annie McCarthy August 29, 2007 1060- Outdoor installation The outdoor installation makes quite a statement in from inside the building, from the lawn, and even from the street. It is a massive and intricate piece work that catches the eye of most passersby, and it only becomes more complex the closer one observes it. One of the first things a person notices is that it is huge; it reaches the second story of the building. Then another aspect that a person would note is its form. It begins as a linear stack of the acrylic material, and as the installation progresses upward, the complexity increases because of the way in which each piece of material branches out into three of four more pieces. After examining the intricacy of the installation, one may then begin to wonder why the designers chose to do certain things. One of these things is that they placed the base of the structure on the concrete part of the sidewalk as opposed the brick portion of the sidewalk. This is because the concrete is more weight bearing than the bricks would be, and since this installation is quite heavy, it is obvious that the sturdier of the two would be appropriate to hold such a large load. The concrete is where the installation sits on the ground. However, an observer might ask how it is suspended in the air, and upon closer inspection one realizes that there are some sort of cables which are secured to part of the building. Then, the question arises as to what these cables are, and how thick they are. I was fortunate enough to find one of the cables broken and hanging down, and so I got to see that these are thin wires that suspend the installation. All of these observations reveal characteristics of the installation and its interaction with its surroundings. Next the observer would note how the installation is assembled and the complexity of the installation. If one starts at end and works her way to the other, she it will be easier to note all of the details. Beginning by observing the stacked acrylic sheets, one notices that the sheets are stacked at a slight angle and that they are not glued together in any way but merely connected with two screws. Also, in examining this portion of the installation one notices for the first time that there are groups of small holes in the center of each piece, and this is obviously an organization technique. The designers needed to know with which piece they were dealing, and so a specific layout of holes would indicate a specific piece of the installation. Then, one continues to move along and observes that the pieces are connected by screws in such a way that they come together to form a hollow center. These shapes are not connected in any way to each other; rather, the designers chose to make use of gravity. These prism-like shapes merely sit atop one another, and the weight of all the substance from above holds each one on top of the one beneath it. Each rectangular prism has three pieces of the acrylic material which break off from it and three more from that one. Once the three pieces break off it is no longer encompassing space inside of it, but the sections go off in separate directions. This pattern continues, and it is in this design aspect that the installation gains its intricacy. The placement of the installation was essential to its magnificence because it was placed directly outside of a window. This allows everyone inside of the building to enjoy it, but until one observes it from outside, one does not realize the true brilliance of it. The window which is right next to the installation has reflective properties, and so from outside the installation’s reflection can be seen in the window. It is truly incredible to see the installation, its reflection, the people indoors, the people outdoors, and the reflections of the people outdoors all framed by these windows. The fact that the installation would be outdoors was obviously taken into account when the designers were choosing a material because the material which they chose has qualities which would withstand most weather conditions. Acrylic is durable and has high resistance to impact. This is obvious when one touches the installation because it is flexible, which is absolutely necessary to high impact strength because if it were still it would snap entirely too easily. The material is also one that can withstand the weathering that it would be subjected to. These are all aspects which must be considered when designing something for an outdoor space. It seems to me that the designers were exploring the idea of space in that they started out with minimal space between each piece of acrylic and built only upon those original pieces in order to achieve the large, spacious result that we see as it rises higher and higher into the air. The result that one observes today is a result of many, many hours of study, and the designers wanted each observer to find meaning in this installation. To me this installation represents a gust of wind. The gust begins compact and strong, but as it continues through the air, it spreads and becomes less and less strong. This dwindling strength is emulated in the installation’s lack of sturdiness, and so I might call this installation “The Labor’s of Aeolus.” Wooden Installation The first installation I observed was the wooden bench in the atrium of the Architecture building. The installation spans all three floors of the building, and truly emphasizes the height of the building. In addition to being a work of art, the wooden structure is also practical; it functions as a bench. The waves and the near transparency of the structure add a great deal of interest, and this is more suitable for an Architecture building than a simple metal bench. This enormous installation truly makes a statement looking up in the atrium and all the way up to the third floor looking down. The installation is made of many, many pieces of manufactured wood. These pieces of wood are positioned in a parallel manner such that when an observer sees the installation from a point directly across from the installation, or close to this point, it appears to be transparent. Each piece is positioned carefully in order to achieve the bench that we see today. Obviously, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to acquire and cut a piece of wood that could span three stories, so each slat of the bench is actually made up of many different pieces. The curves of the bench also add to its magnitude inside the building. The curves were achieved by changing the shape of each slat ever so slightly; this gradual change creates the wavy appearance rather than a jagged one. Upon closer inspection an observer would realize that the detail in this installation is magnificent. One of the first details that an observer would notice is that the pieces are numbered; this is done in practicality. There are so many different pieces to the installation that it would be nearly impossible to recognize each piece and where it goes, and so here the observer sees some of the organization that went into the building of the bench. One would also notice how the structure was enforced, secured, and shaped. Upon observation of the actual bench itself, one notices that the slats there are thicker than they are towards the third floor, and this is for extra support and comfort for the bench users. Some of the main structural support comes from a metal device on the third floor, which grips the cement railing and spans a rod across the installation in order to hold it up. For additional support, metal rods are placed throughout the installation. There are also extra rods where the designers decided to add an element of interest by pulling the slats aside in order to create an apparent hole in the installation. These carefully placed rods are used the pull the slats aside, and the areas around the holes become points of stress. At these and other points of stress the designers placed rods that have separators in order to keep the rods from snapping or getting to close to one another. One must also look at the way in which the installation is assembled. The different numbered parts are cut at angles in order to slide together, but the way in which these pieces are connected varies. Some of the more weight bearing parts use screws and metal plates to be joined, whereas the parts that are on the third level right above the floor are fastened with glue. It is obvious that the designers chose this because there is little weight for it to bear at that point, and no one is depending on those pieces of wood to stay attached one hundred feet up in the atrium. The result of the separation of those pieces is far less substantial than the separation of those overhanging the atrium. It is clear that these designers are exploring some questions about space. These questions probably deal with the idea of vertical space and its endless possibilities, and they evidently wanted to take complete advantage of the vertical space in the atrium. It seems as though the designers were curious as to how they could design a structure that spanned three floors in such a way that it did not divide the space. This way in which the installation was designed gives the idea that it is transparent, when in actuality it is made out of wood, which is not at all transparent. This creative way of overcoming the solidity barrier truly works for the open space that exists in the atrium and dividing it would ruin the spacious area of the atrium. Link to this Page
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