        Meister, Caleb : AssignmentsCaleb MeisterFifth Street: Cudda, Wudda, Shudda Fifth Street at Georgia Tech is a very prominent street. It servers as the main and only direct connector to Technology Square which is a part of campus that houses the School of Management and research facilities. Technology Square is a relatively new part of campus and since its coming into existence the beaten path that takes one there, Fifth Street, has had many plans, much construction, and extreme changes. To fulfill the plans and complete the construction and changes, Fifth Street has cost millions of dollars which have been funded by different sources. With it being such a large investment much careful planning was put forth to insure that the funds would be appropriately used and has transform Fifth Street into the street we have today. Undoubtedly much research and street studies went into the planning stages of the new Fifth Street. To design a street made for a specific area it would be of high priority to first know what the street has been, what it should be, and what a street is. Given the definition of street: 'Street' is a complex invention of human civilization; It is not just a conduit for traffic but rather the dynamic locus of a range of conditions: physical, formal, spatial, social, political, cultural, legal, historical, environmental, and experiential, we see that a street is more than a mere strip of pavement only serving automobiles. Keeping in mind the definition of what Fifth Street should be I will discuss the many functions Fifth Street does serve, should serve, and could serve. The start of Fifth Street, close to the Biltmore, with good reason is quickly becoming the main entrance to the Georgia Institute of Technology campus. The institution and other contributors put 256 million dollars towards the initial development of the east end of Fifth Street including Technology Square, the Georgia Tech Hotel, Centergy I, and a large parking deck. Technology Square opened in October of 2003 along with the Centergy complexes replacing underdeveloped and vacant lots and old warehouses. With the expansion of campus across I-75/85 came a new entrance to Georgia Tech at the intersection of West Peachtree and Fifth Street. The same entrance is now thought to be the future main entrance to campus. Off the corner of West Peachtree and Fifth Street stands the College of Management with a courtyard type area and drive through going from Fifth Street to West Peachtree out in front of the college. The space was finished off with brick pavers, trees, grass, lights, and a large sleek metal sign on the corner reading Technology Square. Currently, that same space in front of the college is being demolished in order to be improved and appear more like a main entrance to the campus. Although only four years have passed since its completion, the area has since acquired a new identity as the front of Georgia Tech and needs to represent the school in its entirety and not only one distinct part of campus. The space now under construction was previously functioning as a vehicle friendly area where students could be dropped off or picked up by Stinger Shuttles or personal vehicles made complete with benches grass and trees with the anticipation of interaction between students, locals, and the green space. However, the courtyard area was essentially cut off from the College of Management and lost any hope of being used as a leisure or social area due to the heavily used drive that was part of the original design. So it is currently going through another transformation, of which it will become a larger grass area resembling a small park without thru traffic. The displaced traffic will now use a bus stop type area, and the courtyard area will hopefully provide a more welcoming green space where people can relax and socialize before and after classes. The property across Fifth Street from Technology Square is occupied by a building and a parking lot unaffiliated with Georgia Tech, but there are plans to demolish the standing building then create a park area like that across the street. In creating this second small park area, the Fifth Street entrance will be complete and become the softest, most welcoming, and grandest entrance that Tech has. Any other entrances that could possibly be considered a main entrance to campus are not very welcoming. Other main entrances are flanked with tall brick walls and concrete on the very inside of the sidewalks making for a narrow entrance into campus. The tall hard brick walls and sharp corners with cold metal lettering spelling out Georgia Institute of Technology scream out, “Prison,” more than, “the best years of your life,” or any imagery associated with college. The park like atmosphere being created at Technology Square will be much more inviting for touring high school students, parents, visitors, and the large community of Atlanta. When designing the start of the Fifth Street project close to the Biltmore the area was designed mainly with the interaction of people, vehicles, and buildings in mind. It is apparent that as time passed and the area bloomed into full use the road, building, and people were functioning but there was not much interaction between people and the space which was created for the people. This seems to be where aesthetic design comes in to play. The feelings and emotions received from the space may not have been as carefully considered as it needed. How does it appeal to the people occupying the space? Will it appeal to people enough in the right way to achieve the purpose for which the area was designed? If the designers had focused more on the aesthetics of the space they were creating, the construction currently taking place may not be going on and money would not be being spent improving something only four years old. With new buildings, classrooms, and businesses, the designers planned ahead for the crowds to come. The street was improved to accommodate more than vehicles. The street was widened to make room for bicycle lanes on either sides of the road, parallel parking on either side of the road, and turning lanes to improve traffic flow in the appropriate areas. The side walks were widened and positioned a several feet from the curb enough space to plant large growing trees and provide a good distance for people on foot to not have to worry about walking into opening, car doors and far enough away from buildings so that restaurants may have outside eating areas that do not obstruct the walkways. In the area between the walkway and the curb there are trees planted about every thirty feet, and between each tree the ground is covered in permeable pavers to allow water for the trees and serves as a boundary for the walkways. Atop the pavers and between the trees is either a bench or a two bike, bike rack which allows for a nice leisurely rest or a quick safe place to put your bike. At the intersections of Fifth Street and Spring and Fifth Street and West Peachtree the parallel parking spaces end, the sidewalks widen, and the street narrows minimizing the pedestrians cross to the other side of the street. The buildings that line the street are multiple story builds, but all with one story shops that line the street. The one story shops enhance the feeling of the city by allowing one to go door to door just by taking a few strides. There are also metal light post that cast a dim orange glow at night. All in all this section of Fifth Street I feel was well planned and well executed. Other than the limitation set by preexisting Fifth Street, I think the design of this section of Fifth Street encompasses exactly what it needs. This part of the street functions beautifully as a pedestrian walkway, a bicycle highway, a vehicular highway, social institution, economic institution, and just a wonderful public space. The aesthetic appeal to this section of the street for me personally is welcoming, peaceful, and pleasant. I commend the designers of this portion of Fifth Street I can not think of any way it could function better. Moving on down Fifth Street towards campus there is the bridge that spans I-75/85. It is the only overpass I have ever seen like it. When standing on the bridge you have no sensation of being over two interstates. The retaining walls of the oversized plant boxes are tall enough to block the noise of the traffic underneath the bridge. There are lawns on each side that give off the feeling and appearance of walking though a newly planted park. The large walkways continue on to the bridge, as well the pavers and the street lights. On either side there are large concrete planting boxes full of flowers, shrubs, and trees that span the entire length of the bridge. The north side of the bridge has a larger lawn area, but the south side of the bridge has a strange metal trellises with Jasmine starting to grow on them. In time the trellises will offer shade, but that will take several years. I do not understand why the trellises were designed like they are. The alternating of shade does not sound ideal if it is a hot summer day and you are trying to beat the heat in the shade. In fact I am not sure that where the trellises flip and point south will offer any shade to any one walking. The designer should have countered in the hot days when students try to stay under shade in one-hundred degree temperatures. Another thing I question is the purpose of the raised lawns. Where is there a need for them to be raised? It does offer seating, but being a student and walking past there many days I very rarely ever see any one sitting on the first retaining wall. Would a higher retaining wall not just equal more dirt and more weight? Why add more weight if it is unneeded, does that not require more support and more money? Why were the benches not continued on the bridge? These are all things that could have been done, or would have been done if I designed the bridge. I see good reasoning behind these arguments and would go as far to say that they should have been considered. It is a shame that this costly bridge is not used more. The Fifth Street Bridge functions properly as a bridge, but being a part of Fifth Street it should serve as more of a social institution. This could have been accomplished with out door living areas, picnic areas with stationary grills, or maybe a small outdoor theater on one side. I would commend the designer of the bridge for its quietness, false sensation, and beauty, but it does not function well as a social institution. The bridge connects back to main campus. Fifth Street becomes more of a residential street after crossing over the interstates back to main campus. Fifth Street has two intersections with traffic lights while cutting through the Greek community. Then it curves around the Klaus building which is the end of the Fifth Street project for now. The Fifth Street Project is supposed to continue all the way around campus one day. From the end of the bridge to the Klaus is going to look the same. The street is much more narrow is comparison with the Technology Square area as is custom in residential neighborhoods. The frame work of the street has not changed much. It still has the same path, but was made wider for bicycle lanes and as needed for turn lanes as well as Stinger Shuttle stops. The walkways were improved and given more of a residential look than in Technology Square. The walkways were take up and then poured again several feet from the road with enough room to plant large growing trees. The walkways are lined with brick and separated every so often by brick. The power lines were buried and new street lamps were erected. Street benches were not continued into the residential part of Fifth Street purposefully to not encourage lingering around private property. As a social institution I fell that the fraternities have more of an influence than the road in this area of Fifth Street. Students would not congregate on this part of Fifth Street instead they would go into a house where it is more comfortable. The aesthetic appeal for this part of Fifth Street would be that safer, more home like feel. It is still more pleasing to walk on Fifth Street than say Techwood Drive I believe largely impart to the fact that there are no power lines over head. Having nothing above you gives a since of freedom, and unbounded space. Over all Fifth Street is a very public place, outlined by the prior framework of the old Fifth Street. It has come from vacant lots to be the future main entrance of The Georgia Institute of Technology. Its distinct space is defined by the similar walkways which link it together. Fifth Street definitely serves different function from bike lanes to research. It is most definitely a social institution where people converse and is always a good place to people watch. I look forward to many great walks on Fifth Street. . Caleb Meister 10. 17 The lecture on the Architecture program asked the questions, what should we build here and now? And, what kind of world are we shaping? The lecture introduced the questions that Architects must ask themselves before designing. It also showed how today’s architecture influences tomorrow. The lecture was presented in the form of a power point. Individualism: I know what it means when referring to literature but not sure of its meaning when it comes to architecture. I now know that it is used as a description of structures not conforming to on set style of architecture but as a one of its own. Ventulett: I have no idea what this word means. I tried to look it up but found nothing. Dubai: Again I really don’t know what this word means, but I believe it is an object. I found that it refers to Arab emigrants and petroleum. To teach people how to think like architects must be challenging. What the hell is a discipline? I still don’t understand. Do you feel responsibility of peoples’ happiness in your designs? Where does the realm of the architect’s design stop? 10.15 The 10.15 lecture was on the broad topic of building construction. The presentation was made with a power point. The two of the main concepts explained within the presentation were that of stakeholders and the life cycle phases of construction. Decommissioning: I have heard it used before but am unsure of its meaning. It means a formal process removing something from operational status. Capstone: This term is used in capstone project. I thought it meant something on top. It means in its context it refers to a grad students crowning achievement. Decentralization: This term was used several times on some slides. From what I gather I think it would mean the opposite of centralization, but that meaning would not seem to fit its context. I found no meanings of this word. To teach people about building construction isn’t it necessary to spend a great deal of class time on construction sites? People skills seems like a discipline that one must have in this occupation, is it? Are BC majors always working outside? Are BC majors necessary to the construction industry? Why would an owner feel a need to hire a BC major instead of only contractors because aren’t their duties closely related? 10.22 The lecture on 10.22 gave us a look into the major of industrial design. It was present with a power point presentation. It answered question to: what is design, what is industrial design, and what is good design? Aesthetic: I remember this word from my health class but have trouble recalling its meaning. It means appeal to our senses, how we feel about something. Iterative adjustment: I do not know the meaning of this word and don’t believe I have heard it. It means repeating adjustments. That is what I have found, but I am still unsure if that is correct. Humanization: It was used in humanization of technologies. I have not heard of this word. I could not find it. I would guess that it means technologies becoming more human-like. Can creativity be taught? Is there not a need to counter in the effect on the environment when designing? Is it not a discipline? As an industrial designer do you have to be creative? How great is the demand for industrial designers? 9.17 The lecture on Architecture, Culture, and Behavior informed the class on the influence architecture has on our culture and behavior and how our culture and behavior influence our architecture. Craig Zimring, the man lecturing, prepared a power point presentation that he used. Some of the main topics discussed in the lecture are physical activity, environmental factors, safety, and lighting and how they connect architecture. 1. I have heard the word hybrid used before when talking about the newer and more fuel efficient vehicles, but never had I heard stairs as an example of a hybrid, but after looking it up I found what it means in this context. It means the combining of two separate things such as physical activity and architecture. 2. Aesthetic is a word that I have heard of many times but do not know the meaning. Aesthetics is an appreciation of beauty or good taste, such as the way a build looks. 3. The word acuity was used on some of the hospital slides and I do not know the meaning of it. Acuity means clarity of vision so in the hospitals the rooms can be monitored by sight. What classes should one sign up for if he would like to learn more about ABC? How are A, B, and C connected and does one have more of an effect on the other two? How would you apply this to the designs of a residential architect? Has the study of ABC developed into an industry of its own? 9.19 This lecture was presented by Ruth Dusseault a photographer. She shared with us through a power point presentation and video clips of the destruction and rebuilding of what was Atlantic Steel Company and is now Atlantic Station. The clips showed everything starting with the former buildings of the historic steel company to the construction of the present day shopping and residential area it has become. The main concept that I gathered from the presentation was the idea of city planning. 1. I have heard of the word utopian meaning perfect of sustainable but not used with architect. Utopian architects try to build things where peoples basic needs are satisfied in a close community. 2. Smoke stack usually refers to a cylinder object that releases smoke from above the source of the smoke. In Atlantic Station the smoke stack is a symbol of the old Atlantic Steel company and all the families it supported over the years. 3. Millennium Gate is something that was referred to in the presentation that I had no idea of what it was. The millennium gate is something prized in many cities around the world put in by famous landscapers. Where could I learn about city planning? What all does city planning in tell? How profitable is photography like the Atlantic Station project? How large is the industry of city planning? 9.26 The lecture on 9.62 was presented by Sonit Bafna on Palladio and his influence on the world of architecture. Palladio has many famous works some that are well kept and some that are not. He always stuck with a very systematic floor plan the fit together perfectly with the outside elevations so that simply moving one door or window would throw the harmony of the house off. 1. Villas I thought were just Italian homes. After researching them I have come to know they are country homes. 2. I heard Bafna use the words harmonic tones and I was not sure of their meanings either. Harmonic tones are when tones are at certain frequencies apart and the sound fit right together to sound like one the way Palladio’s house plans worked together. Where do I need to go to learn more about classical architecture? What all does classical architecture contain? How profitable are residential architects that specialize in classical styles? What percentage of the architecture industry is classical? Assignment 9.16 Lecture 9.10 The lecture on 9.10 covered the different approaches to disability research in different majors. The presenter shared his information with us through a power point presentation. A large part of the presentation covered assistive technologies, which include: universal design appeal and specialized assistive technologies. The Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access was also another high point in the presentation. I did not know what barrier free education was and after looking it up I have learned that barrier free education is taking away the obstacles or providing a way around the obstacles that disabled people face. The phrase is also used by feminist who believe that men receive a better education than women and strive for barrier free education. Before the presentation, I did not know the meaning of the word assistive technologies, but by the presentation I was informed that it is everything and anything from hearing aids to wheelchairs. It can be anything that helps a handicapped person learn or function properly. I found that the term is also used in the medical field when technology is used in assisting a patient through anything from surgery to helping correct infertility. The speaker at one point mentioned STEM education, and after research, I found that it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, which is relatively self explanatory. STEM education is the education of those fields listed above. I found no other definitions for this term. For research in this field do you conduct surveys on disabled people or do individual studies? How beneficial would it be to minor in medicine or physical therapy? Do you get attached to your subjects? How do you go about researching about the environment? Lecture 9.12 Fortunately we were able to have a professor of practice to present the lecture on Building Construction on 9.10. The lecture briefly covered the history and present state of building construction as a sector of the economy. The professor used a power point presentation for a visual as he lectured. Some of the important terms and concepts were the sectors of the industry which include: residential, non-residential, and civil; and specific characteristics like: few product commitments and slow product delivery. I was unsure of what vertical integration so after looking it up I found that it is when a firm or business that owns its upstream suppliers and its downstream buyers. I didn’t find any other meanings for this term. Ephemeral was another word I was not familiar with, but after looking it up I know it is an adjective used to describe something that quickly deteriorates. I found no other meanings for this term, but it is used commonly as a geographical term. I did not no what the Ecclesiastical Boom was that he referred to at one point. It refers to a time frame and the building styles between the years from 1150-1350. It is also used as the name for particular type of music. What was your favorite aspect about building buildings? Do you consider yourself as a creative person? Did you ever have any desire to design a building after building so many? What was the most challenging part of being over construction? Lecture 9.14 The lecture on 9.14 covered GIS, Geographical Information Systems. The lecture on GIS was presented in the form of a power point. From what I understood GIS in a nut shell a system of hardware and software that links mapped objects together. Spatial relationships, remote sensing, and land suitability were all important terms cover in the presentation. I did not know what Ubiquitous Data Availability was but now I understand that this is a data that is available and will not go away. There were no other meanings for this term. Automated Data Acquisition is another on that I did not know, but it means that data is automatically acquired with out having to instruct anything to do so. No other findings for this term. I did not know what Enterprise Collaboration was but I know now that it is the different sections of technology that make up GIS coming together to make the information systems whole. There were no other findings for this on either. Would we ever have to worry about an invasion of privacy do to GIS? Are you happy in your field of study? What classes are needed to go into this field? Is it possible to ever have a complete collaboration of the different technologies that make up GIS? 9.09 The first lecture of the three covered the style of classical architecture and was presented by practicing architects. One at a time each of the professionals described there work experience and gave examples of projects they had worked on using power points. Through these, I learned the difference between traditional and classical architecture and just how naturally classical buildings green. Green Building -is the practice of increasing the efficiency of buildings and their use of energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better sitting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal the complete building life cycle. Classical Architecture – is a mixture between Greek architecture, Roman architecture, and Hellenistic architecture. 1. Is classical a strict designing style, or can you experiment a little and still call it classical? 2. Since classical style is generally high end jobs do firms that specialize in classical architecture pay employees more? 3. Do think it would be beneficial to study abroad to Greece and Italy for furthering of education? The next class lecture informed everyone in the auditorium of Solar Decathlon. With the class being primarily freshman, the presentation was geared to informative and engaging. The information was also presented as a power point. The house, when finished, should be built to be energy efficient complete with energy production technologies. Photovoltaic- is a solar power technology that uses solar cells or solar photovoltaic arrays to convert light from the sun directly into electricity. Energy Efficiency - is using less energy to provide the same level of energy service. 1. Do people working on this project feel an obligation to the environment? 2. Do you believe that the Green age will ever become affordable for the average residential family to improve their houses? 3. Did you really enjoy learning about conservation? The last lecture focused on Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CADCAM). The speaker gave his testimony about his successes in COMCAD using a power point as a visual. As he spoke of experience in creating the green wall, we learned the process of CADCAM from conception to fabrication to construction. Prototyping - is the process of quickly putting together a working model in order to test various aspects of a design, illustrate ideas or features and gather early user feedback. Fabrications -applies to the building of machines and structures by cutting, shaping and assembling components made from raw materials. 1. Do you ever feel like you could do a better job than the computer? 2. Do you take great pride in your work, and do you ever think it is just ugly? 3. Do the classes have to build stimulation? Edit Meister, Caleb : Assignments here. Caleb Meister Sabir COA 1060 29 August 2007 Instillations The wooden instillation inside of the studio building is my favorite of the two. It resembles a bench at the base then the back of the bench rises all the way past the third floor level. The bench is constructed of wood. The back of the bench goes straight upward for the first floor and after that it, although being in a fixed position, appears to roll with wave like motions. When observing the instillation one notices the roughly half an inch by four inch wide cuts of fabricated wood that makes up the bench. These cuts of wood are turned so that the half inch side is seen from the front and back of the bench and the four inch side is seen from the ends of the bench. The slats of wood appear to have been strung on an extra long bolt and spaced apart every other one by half inch nuts. There is a slight variation of this pattern in the back of the bench before it reaches the second floor. The part of the bench that someone would sit on was assembled in a pattern of three slat boards together spaced by a half inch nut. It was constructed to provided some visibility through the bench between the slats. I do not believe that the bench itself has much affect on the acoustics of the room. I do not believe it really muffles or reflects sound waves to any noticeable extent. As far as lighting goes I think the shade of the wood in the light or the shade of the wood in the dark is what sets the mood of the instillation. In the day it seems cheerful and full of life but in the dark it seems a bit haunting and overbearing. To the touch the bench is smooth on the sides of the boards and sharp and rough on the edges. Being wood, there is a chance that with the higher temperatures of the Georgian summers the wood may expand with the absorption of humidity and shrink in the dryer cooler months. From my observations, I can see that the students responsible for the wooden instillation could have gained some motivation from nature and more specifically a waterfall. If you have ever seen water fall, even out of the faucet, where the water emerges there is tiny bubbles with in the water and as it falls the air escapes and the stream of water seems to shrink in diameter. This could be the explanation for the larger separations between the boards or as the water is falling straight down. I would name this instillation Wooden Fall. If it had a secret life it would probably go to a park without a bench. The plastic instillation is another story. I honestly would not wish for anyone to have to gaze at it everyday. This instillation looks like a mess of plastic. It starts on the ground in layers of clear, hard, plastic like materials and grows, curves, and expands into strips of plastic twisting and bending as it climbs upwards to rest and close back in on a concrete beam. The instillation has some form and pattern to its flowing thin strips of poly carbonate plastic. The instillation was created by computer and assembled in pieces. It is held together by what appears to be some kind of rivets. At this time I see no role that it plays or function it carries out. Possibly when it was first created it put on a dazzling show of reflected and distorted lights and shadows. At times, I can see bubbles in the busy part of the instillation, but other than that I do not find it impressing in the least. Currently the only function it is performing is collecting dust and leaves. To the touch the poly carbonate plastic feels hard but at the same time flexible. I don’t believe that temperature affects the installation at all. I thought long and hard about what may have inspired the creators of this instillation. I can see the journey of life illustrated when I look at the simple beginning “childhood,” growth “adolescence,” changing into a chaotic mess as most adults’ lives become full. Adults are stretched here and there and then one day they retire and life slows down and simplifies, and then it ends. I would name this instillation the Journey of Life. This instillation would never have a secrete life because if it did no one would be its friend because it is so ugly. Link to this Page
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