Paris, Chris : Assignments

Paris, Chris : Assignments

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Research Essay

My research has helped me to understand the context in which a building is built. The design of a building is very similar to how we react to our surroundings. As individuals, our actions and personalities are influenced by the culture of our time. We use our five senses to adjust and react to the culture that we live in. The built environment is subject to the filters of social, political, cultural and economical conditions, material culture, architecture, building and construction, and science and technology. It is a response to the world around it through these seven different filters that are used to fully analyze its place and context within a greater framework. Each lens changes over time, and due to this truth, every structure in the built environment is unique because it reacts to society and the filters in different ways. From now on, my opinions of buildings will no longer solely be based on aesthetics or appearance. The research helped us to see what were the limitations and societal issues that influenced the rules that went into the design of the built environment of a certain time period. By understanding why the building looks the way that it does, we have a much greater comprehension of what kind of reaction we are trying to make to society in our design of the built world.

5th Street Revisited

It seems that in today’s day and age that college campuses around the United States are attempting to improve their universities by expanding outward into the surrounding area. Through this expansion and renovation, colleges and universities hope to achieve a variety of goals with their multi-million dollar investments. They want to create an extension of campus that will enhance their student’s college experience. With additional space, more classrooms, labs, and research centers can be added to improve the academia of the university. Restaurants and bars can be added for entertainment, and housing facilities and apartments can be built in order to house more students. There are endless possibilities that can be developed in a public space. However, space is scarce and limited, and it takes careful analysis and observation to determine how this space can be used to its fullest potential. Every campus is different, and therefore, will have its own plan specific to their students and their needs.

Georgia Tech has found the opportunity to create an extension of campus along the 5th Street corridor. This street has been under development since before I even applied to the institute. 5th Street appears to be in its final stage of construction with its final touches remaining. However, with the current state of the road and the buildings that adorn its sidewalks, it is difficult to interpret the final goal of the Georgia Tech developers and Department of Transportation was successful. On the western side of the bridge it is evident that the remodeling effort is aimed more at the beautification and improvement of the actual campus. On the eastern side of the bridge, the institute has conducted a major land development project that is geared towards enhancing college life through a variety of stores and academic buildings. Through these “improvements” Georgia Tech hopes to improve a student’s college experience, social life, and its academic reputation among the nation’s top universities. The question is whether or not these renovations have achieved their goal. I believe that Georgia Tech planners and architects have appealed to the various uses and views of streets and public spaces; however, I believe they have not taken into consideration the type of people who will get the most use out of it.

When I was visiting other colleges around the country when I was applying, I took into consideration the surrounding area and how it was incorporated in the college. There were some that were effective in their campus extension and there are others that like creating this sense of an enclosed bubble around the campus. I believe the University of Virginia has the most effective extension of their campus because they have a clear goal with their development. They have encouraged the growth a restaurant and shopping district known as “The Corner” and “The Mall” that allows for a social scene for college students in Charlottesville. By designating a certain area off of campus for entertainment and shopping, the university has more room to confine academic buildings and research centers in the school grounds. Also, by not having these restaurants and retailers on campus, the owners have more freedom to run their business without university intervention. However, even though this area is not an official part of the university, college students are found in every restaurant. This area is successful because even though the places are not owned and operated by the University, they were able to influence an area that is aimed towards the student body.

In order to fully analyze the successes or failures of the 5th Street bridge, one has to be able to see it through many different lenses. The first is to view it as a public space. This is not only its place in the public realm, but what purpose that is serves to the public. The architects and planners of this project intended for Technology Square to be the main entrance into campus. Since Georgia Tech is located in the center of Atlanta, is lacks the space to create a grand entrance similar to the Hookie stone boulevard that leads into Virginia Tech. When I walked down to the end of that Tech Square, I did not feel like it is the main entrance into campus at all because I still have to walk a number of blocks until I actually reach the main campus. By designating this as the main entrance, it does not highlight the major qualities of the campus like Tech Tower or Bobby Dodd Stadium. Outside of this idea as grand entrance, it does provide a variety of shops and restaurants that people can use at their pleasure, and it does house the College of Management that serves as an “extension” of the campus with this additional space that 5th Street provides.

When I first visited Georgia Tech a couple of years ago, Tech Square was not a part of campus at all. Within the past couple of years, the planners have developed the street to be an inviting link between the campus and city that students would be able to use for their benefit. The framework of the streets is maintained because it would be extremely difficult to reconfigure the main city streets that run through Tech Square in order to maintain a steady flow of traffic. However, the renovation of the buildings that frame the street have given it a new definition. It has become a street that has been divided by a bridge that now projects towards a mix use street of academic buildings, housing (fraternities, sororities, GT Hotel), and commercial buildings. By incorporating these institutions along the 5th street corridor with transportation (Tech Trolley), planners and architects hope to link campus life to the city beyond the campus grounds.

By simply observing the physical nature of the street, I realized how it is used to appeal to a variety of people and work on many levels. In regard to automobiles, it is a two lane road all the way from Klaus to the Biltmore. At many times, the road does become congested due to the many stop lights and cross traffic. 5th Street does intersect many roads along its path. It intersects two major three lane one way roads. By only being two lanes wide, 5th Street attempts to focus most of the traffic towards these major roads to allow more freedom for pedestrians and cyclists. The intersection of these roads provides a transportation network that enhances the idea that there is a link between the campus and Atlanta. It also provides an efficient means of driving to the other side of town through Tech Square. For cyclists, there are bicycle lanes. This is a must due to the fact that there are many students that ride bicycles around campus, and they do need their place on the street because their speed is too fast for the sidewalks that intended for pedestrians. In order to encourage sidewalk usage, planners have to create a sense of ownership for pedestrians. The sidewalks along 5th street at Tech Square are 24 feet wide, which is actually 2 feet wider than the driving lanes. This, in a sense, puts cars and pedestrians on an equal level in terms of hierarchy. The relationship between these divisions is an integral in determining how the street is used. The planners I believe were able to incorporate the needs of each group.

The final analysis of 5th Street was to observe its main uses. Is it intended to focus on transportation, academia, housing/ residence, social life, or towards consumers? I took a look at what kind of facilities were located along the street’s edges. There are many places to eat like Moe’s, and there is a pizza parlor, Marble Slab, a place for barbeque, and a chocolate shop. This leads towards a focus of commercial places in terms of restaurants, and they also provide a social location for people to get together and get something to eat. The main focus of Tech Square is the location of the bookstore. By contracting the bookstore to Barnes and Noble, Georgia Tech is able to sell textbooks and sweatshirts, but allow it to operate under a company that specializes in the book industry. This is yet another facility based towards an individual’s tendencies to buy. In terms of the school itself, Georgia Tech is able to locate the College of Management at the end of the corridor. This provides more classrooms and even a place to host events like Jim Kramer’s Mad Money. When it comes to housing, there is the Georgia Tech Hotel. This is not a facility intended for students to use, but mainly alumni. The conference rooms can also be used to for a variety of purposes. I believe the planners were very successful in promoting a variety of businesses and facilities to satisfy all functions and uses.

After viewing 5th street through these various lenses, it is time to conclude whether or not this redevelopment project is effective in what Andrew Blum calls a “lifestyle center”. He defines it as a “vibrant urban street” that is open-aired and has many characteristics of an indoor mall. The first question to ask when developing a lifestyle center is: what type of lifestyle are you attempting to appeal to? For 5th Street, the design of the street should be focused on the needs of the college student because it is the extension of a college campus. The businesses along the street should be useful for the average student because we are the ones who are most likely to use it. The majority of the public are not going to go out of their way to shop along Tech Square when the can easily go to Lenox Mall or Atlantic Station. There are a variety of places along the street; however, I believe that they are not the best options for students to take advantage of. When you look at what is along the street, the only commercial facilities that are useful are Great Clips and the bookstore. I hardly saw anyone in any of the other restaurants besides from Moe’s. In the clothing stores like American Apparel, there was hardly anyone in there as well. Also, is there really a demand for a chocolate shop? Most of these commercial facilities do not benefit the college students, and therefore, they are not used. I then tried to conclude what characteristics would make businesses successful along this street. Places like Jimmie Johns Subs and Dominoes are popular because they deliver. Wingnuts is open late if someone is hungry late at night, and they also deliver. Finally, places like Moe’s and Quiznos are popular because they are fast and you can take it to go or dine in if you have the time. The restaurants at Tech Square do not appeal to any of the needs of students outside of Moe’s. Clothing stores are not very popular because most students have limited space for clothes, and they bring all that they need from home. It is highly unlikely that they will buy a more clothes for their wardrobe. In today’s day in age, the “American model of public space” creates the ideal that the ideal city/ street is based on consumption. The planners behind 5th street have failed to achieve the maximum possible consumption out of the 5th street corridor by allowing businesses that do not appeal to the clientele that the project should be aimed at.

The final aspect of the design of 5th Street that needs to be taken into consideration is the idea of the community. It must include the role that it will provide for the whole and in what way can that role enhance the lifestyle and operation of the entire community. In planning 5th Street, developers, planners, and architects failed to put in commercial facilities that will benefit the people who are a part of the community, which in this case is Georgia Tech and its students and faculty. By doing this, they have isolated this branch of the campus from the rest of the tree. Students do not go there because they want to, but because they need to go to the bookstore to pick something up for class. Since it is difficult to appeal to our wants, developers need to appeal to our needs.

In conclusion, the ideas and concepts that are the basis for the development are solid because they appeal to a variety of views and lenses that go into the design of a public space; however, I feel that they have failed to recognize the type of people who would get the most use out of an effective redevelopment. As far as I am concerned, Georgia Tech owns the property, and therefore, can determine what businesses are run along the street. For me, it is pointless to try to appeal to an entertainment sector because we are in Atlanta, and there is plenty to do for pleasure and entertainment in this city. Businesses like CVS Pharmacies or Publix should have been moved to 5th Street to benefit students so that they do not need to travel far. Restaurants like Firehouse Subs or a Chinese take-out restaurant could be put in as an affordable dining option outside of the dining hall. Also, instead of a hotel, maybe they could have incorporated an apartment complex that could be available for student housing. These are businesses that could make this street successful because students at Tech will use them for their personal needs on a regular basis. By implementing this strategy, 5th Street will be the most effective because it maximizes potential consumption.

Assignment 10/28

Design, commodity, firmness, delight, and society are all concepts that are a central part of the Architecture program at Georgia Tech. However, the discipline of Architecture itself is the response to these separate issues. It is the process of holistic thinking of economic variables, societal issues, and the idea of sustainability and transcending time. The idea of radial axes (design) is introduced with the city of Versailles. It is composed of an axis with a series of cross axes that creates a geometrical framework that develops a harmonious space. With Jefferson’s Academical Village, we are introduced to the idea of a nested hierarchy which is a way that taxonomic groups fit neatly and completely inside other taxonomic groups. These separate concepts are used by their designers to interpret and design a building for its place and time period. Today, we have the BIM, which is the Building Information Model. This technology covers geometry, spacial relationships, geographic info, and quantities and properties of building components. This allows architects to analyze all variables of the design process before actually building the structure. Through our initial studies of architecture we are developing a different way of viewing the world. We do this in order to conclude: how should we build? With that in mind, we must also consider: What kind of world are we shaping? These two questions are used in every phase of an individual’s progression through the discipline of Architecture. They contribute to the idea of holistic thinking. When building, the architect must account for all variables and factors that contribute to the success of a building.

The key concept of the Building Construction program is integration. Integration is the synthesis of the concepts and roles of urban planning, ownership, development, building/construction, and operation. Construction companies have tried to discover the most efficient way of integrating every level of production. There are also three other terms that are important when it comes to the process of integration and building construction. First, there is procurement. This is a process primarily left to the general contractor. This is where he or she gains contracts for the right to build and to get subcontractors to perform specialized tasks. There is also decommissioning, where it is the job to withdraw from active use and service of a building. This could involve selling it or demolition of the structure. The final concept is automation. This deals primarily with industrialized automation due to the use of control systems to control industrial machinery and processes. This leads to the idea of progress in the industry and possible efficiency. I wonder how and what can a student study or research in college in order to develop new strategies in integration? Maybe, students have to have be balanced in architecture, building construction, and urban planning. Also, what is the construction industry doing to improve efficiency? Perhaps having a more advanced research and development in the industry could help the problem. Finally, can the idea of the Master Builder solve this problem and if so how can it be achieved?

Industrial design is the discipline of designing manufactured products. This design discipline is different in the sense that is deals with objects at the human scale. It is design that is focused on people, socio-economics, environment, and the future usage. The most important concept of the ID program is to develop an understanding of universal design. Universal Design is not focused on an individual or a group of people, but towards the public at large. It appeals to all bases and all senses. Success is found in the designers who are able to effectively innovate and problem solve. Industrial Design is a cognitive process. This means that it pertains to mental perception, judgment, and reasoning, instead of emotional processes. It also deals with anthropometrics, which is the study of living human individuals for the purpose of understanding human physical variation. Finally, Industrial Design is iterative meaning that it must be repetitious. Manufacturers must be able to reproduce the designer’s vision, and users must be able to reuse the objects for personal purposes. It appears that Industrial Design is more focused on improving objects through their design. But, do industrial designers ever focus on improving the operation and systems of the object when designing? Also, I believe certain objects are already in their perfect state. Do industrial designers ever find themselves trying to redesign the wheel? Do individuals design and innovate for the sake of design or for the purpose of improving society?

1060 Library 101 Assignment

Bates, Kristin A. and Richelle S. Swan, eds. Through the Eye of Katrina : Social Justice in the United States. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, 2007.

Birch, Eugenie L. and Susan M. Wachter, eds. Rebuilding Urban Places After Disaster : Lessons from Hurricane Katrina. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006.

Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. New Orleans after the Storm : Lessons from the Past, a Plan for the Future. Washington DC: Brookings Institution, Metropolitan Policy Program, 2005.

Brunsma, David L., David Overfelt, and J. Steven Picou, eds. The Sociology of Katrina : Perspectives on a Modern Catastrophe. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield, 2007.

Bullard, Robert D,ed. The Black Metropolis in the Twenty-First Century: Race, Power, and Politics of Place. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2007.

Deggans, Eric. “Katrina has failed to kindle dialogue on race and class.” St. Petersburg Times (Florida). 1 March 2006, South Pinellas Edition; 1A.

DesRoches, Reginald. Hurricane Katrina’s Impact on Louisiana’s Transportation Infrastructure. Reston, Va: American Society of Engineers, 2006.

DesRoches, Reginald, ed. Hurricane Katrina: Performance of Transportation Systems. Reston, Va: American Society of Engineers, 2006.

Espinoza, Cholene. Through the Eye of the Storm. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub. Co., 2006.
Giroux, Henry A. Stormy Weather: Katrina and the Politics Disposability. Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers, 2006.

Hartman, Chester and Gregory D. Squires, eds. There Is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster : Race, Class, and Hurricane Katrina. New York: Routledge, 2006.
Hawyer, Mark. "AFTER KATRINA: Second of Two Parts: Moving On. " Army/Navy Store & Outdoor Merchandiser 15 Nov. 2005: 48,50. ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry. ProQuest. 11 Oct. 2007

Hurricane Katrina Review Panel and American Society of Civil Engineers. The New Orleans Hurricane Protection System: What Went Wrong and Why. Reston, VA: ASCE, 2007.

Hutchinson, Earl Ofari. “Racial divide; We are far from united in the aftermath of disaster, as blacks and whites show that the gap may be wider.” Philadelphia Inquirer. 27 August 2006; C05.

McCarthy, Kevin. The Repopulation of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Gulf States Policy Institute, 2006.

Miller, Joshua and Yoosun Park. “The Social Ecology of Hurricane Katrina: Re-Writing the Discourse of Natural Disasters.” Smith College Students in Social Work. 9 September 2006. Haworth Press. 11 October 2007

Montgomery, David W, Robert A. Baron, and Mary K. Weisskopf. "POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED PRICE GOUGING LEGISLATION ON THE COST AND SEVERITY OF GASOLINE SUPPLY INTERRUPTIONS." Journal of Competition Law & Economics 3.3 (2007): 357-397. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. 11 Oct. 2007

Mouawad, Jad. “Katrina’s Shock to the System.” New York Times 4 September 2005. 11 October 2007

Olasky, Marvin N. The Politics of Disaster: Katrina, Big Government, and a New Strategy for Future Crises. Nasheville, Tenn: W Pub. Group, 2006

Ramroth, William G. Planning for Disaster : How Natural and Man-Made Disasters Shape the Built Environment. New York: Kaplan Pub, 2007.

Reed, Betsy, ed. Unnatural Disaster: The Nation on Hurricane Catrina. New York: Nation Books, 2006.

Saltman, Kenneth, ed. The Schooling and Politics of Disaster. New York: Routledge, 2007

Samuelson, Robert J. “The Economics of Fear.” Hungarian Human Rights Foundation. 16 August 2006. 11 October 2007. .

South End Press Collective. What Lies Beneath: Katrina, Race, and the State of the Nation. Cambridge, Mass: South End Press, 2007.

United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Resolution of Inquiry Relating to Contracts for Services or Construction Related to Hurricane Katrina Recovery. Washington DC: U.S. G.P.O., 2005.

United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. A Vision and Strategy for Rebuilding New Orleans. 18 October 2005. Washington: U.S. G.P.O., 2006.

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hurricane Katrina : why did the levees fail?.2 November 2005. Washington: U.S. G.P.O., 2006.

Wahl, Iver. Building Anatomy : An Illustrated Guide to How Structures Work. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007.

Ward, Andrew. “Katrina rhetoric does little to calm growing storm among poor blacks Andrew Ward reports on increasing social divisions in New Orleans following the hurricane.” Financial Times (London). 23 August 2006, London Edition 1; 7.

Xie, Wei-Chau. Dynamic Stability of Structures. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Critical Listening: Learning to Ask Good Questions 9/30

Dr. Zimring’s presentation on Architecture, Culture, and Behavior focused on how the design of the built environment influences the way we live our lives and how people influence design. His presentation was organized to first display the pattern of terrible health in our country, whether it is obesity, diabetes, or depression. He then presents possible solutions by combining the design of the built environment and physical activity. Finally, he presents how effective these studies are when it comes to their application in hospitals. He centered his presentation on the relationship between physical activity and the built environment and how they influence each other. There are three different ways that were introduced to induce physical activity and promote positive health habits. From the presentation I could develop and idea of what they mean, but I did not realize what effect they had in this context. The first is layout and configuration. Designers and architects use this concept to motivate walking behavior and activity through attractors at the building level. Secondly, activity programmed areas locate activity areas in visible areas in order to influence and promote physical activity. The last programming factor is the activity inducing area. These areas provide visual connection aides that allow for individual to find their way around building while motivating pedestrian movement. All of these programs are used together in the development of building design to help individual behavior through intentional, incidental and hybrid activity. However, I believe our society is inherently lazy will do anything to avoid strenuous activity. How can you teach or convince people that by accepting stair usage, for example, an individual will improve his or her overall health? Are the conclusions made about adapting the built environment and physical activity solely made through statistical research or do they take into mind the aesthetic principles of design to develop strategies? As professionals, do they make the environment visually appealing or do they only focus on maximizing activity, for example a building with only staircases? Throughout the presentation Dr. Zimring presented research and models for the application of the research. I was wondering if his area of expertise is only on a consulting basis or is this an area of the economy that is up and coming when it comes to architecture?

The Atlantic station presentation focused on the historical context, the current state, and the future/ progress of the outdoor facility. She started by showing us the demolition of the Atlantic Steel Mill. She then gave us some historical and present background information for the inspiration of Atlantic Station. Then, she presented her series of photographs not to present a before and after project, but to show the construction as a process and to give it historical documentation. The main concept discussed was the idea of the “New South” and how it is becoming more industrialized. She also uses the term historical context to convey the idea that a building has roots in the past. She introduces us to the idea of the utopian architect. They design buildings and cities that provide an ideal environment for their users where there was nothing developed prior or a site is created as a clean slate. This applies to Atlantic Station due to the fact that the mill was demolished to provide a site to construct the outdoor mall. She believed they received their inspiration from industrialism, which is the time period that focused on technological progress when it came to machinery. The architecture of this time period was a collaboration of technology, engineering, and art. The final term that the preceding two lead to is southern modernity. It is the present day movement away from the picket fence and colonial plantations. The South over the years has progressively gotten more urban, suburban, and middle class. A project like Atlantic Station does not come around very often. What other types of subjects does she document in order to stay in her industry? It seemed also that she was doing this free lance. How does a free lance photographer continue with his or her profession while documenting scenes for his or her personal benefit? Also, where does one get the inspiration through photography to develop such a profound idea about the state of our society? Are these photos going to be put in the Millennium Tower in order to educate the public on Atlantic Station’s true historical context?

The final presentation was focused on Palladio’s influence towards architecture. The presentation was organized to show examples of Palladio’s buildings. The professor then pointed out what aspects of the building were unique to Palladian design. He also gave us hypotheses for the rationale behind Palladio’s work. We were once again introduced to the concepts of scale, proportion, and symmetry. Scale refers to the relative lengths, areas, distances, and sizes of spaces. Proportion describes the relationship between the elements of design, and symmetry is the correspondence in size and arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a plane, line, or point. Palladio was the master of using these three integral concepts to develop a harmonizing design. Every piece had a rhyme or reason to its purpose. His principles follow those of Classical Architecture; however, the appearance of many of his buildings differs from the stereotypical classical structure. Did he precede or come after the main height of the classical period and develop his own hybrid classicism? How do architects use his techniques when it comes to designing a building? What present day buildings, those that have been built within the last fifty years, have a clear Palladian inspiration? What I found most interesting was the idea that Palladio’s dimensions were based on musical theory? How does an individual think that far outside the box to organize his or her mode of thinking in that manner?

Critical Listening: Learning to Ask Good Questions 9/16

The basic premise of the CATEA presentation was to introduce an individual’s disability in regards to the design process of the environment. He showed us three interfaces must be balanced in order to obtain an optimum solution. He broke the presentation down by showing how these interfaces, human-task/ environment, human-device, and device-task/environment, cooperated with one another in a multidisciplinary approach. Certain projects, like the modified wheelchair, were shown, and he discussed how each discipline, whether designing or engineering, contributed to the modifications. We were also introduced to the difference between the concepts of universal and specialized design appeal in regards to assistance technology. Universal appeal is independent of one’s inability or disability to perform a task. It has an appeal to everyone. Specialized design focuses on the problem in order to improve living standards of the disabled. Specialized design is not beneficial for those without disabilities. Actually, the design for the disabled is in many ways cumbersome for those who do not need it. This presentation left me questioning certain aspects of this sector of the designed and built environment. Are most of the products modifications or does CATEA develop new technologies in order to improve specialized design appeal? Since it appears that CATEA is more of an Outreach Program, is it driven by profit or for social improvement in order to develop new technology? Is the discipline of assistance technology only based on statistics and data points or form and function? If both, how do the two work together? Finally, I realize that by showing us this presentation he is putting the concepts and ideals of assistance technology in the back of our minds, but are they educating distributors, hospitals, and healthcare facilities that technology is available and being further developed?

The AEC Integration presentation demonstrated that the construction sector of the economy is based on the cooperation of many disciplines to accomplish the final project. He organized his discussion to show the characteristics, the origins, and the current processes of the profitable construction sector. The most important term that was mentioned in the presentation was “Integration”. This is the concept that has become the key to the current methods of construction. This is because it allows for a streamline process, where professionals can specialize in their discipline and contribute to the structure. Lean construction, design-build, and supply chains are three factors that have helped to improve construction methods. Lean construction is the holistic pursuit of improvements in all dimensions of the built and natural environment. Design-build is a construction project delivery system used to reduce the project delivery time by overlapping the design phase and construction phase of a project. A supply chain is a coordinated system of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved with moving products and services from the supplier to the customer. In a day and age where customers want projects with a quick turnaround, the improvement of integration has allowed for the efficiency of this sector of the economy to improve. It seems that the sector has made significant improvements the process of construction; however, it was stated that they have reached a stand still when it comes to research and development. Why has construction failed to put more effort in attempting to conduct research in order to improve the knowledge of the discipline? Why is it that contractors cannot specialize in a certain area construction like residential or commercial? To me, this would allow for development because contractors would become extremely knowledgeable in that facet of building construction. Why is the discipline of building construction centered in a way where there are many parts working a whole? Here at Tech are we more concerned with the management of these parts of being the part that constructs? Lastly, will there ever be a day where construction can become an industry instead of sector? Companies can have all the services within a business instead of subcontracting. It may be more profitable.

The Geographic Information Systems presentation focused on the environment in which a building is built. Before a building can be constructed, it surroundings must be understood before the process of building it begins. The presentation was broken down to show how certain technologies are used to examine the context of a potential building, and what effects it may have on the environment. These technologies can be used to see potential hazards in pollution in order to improve the standard of living in an area. Urban planning was the main concept discussed. It deals with the study of existing conditions within an urban area, projects future conditions, analyzes the consequences of development, and develops alternative solutions to urban problems. It deals with impervious area, which consists of artificial structures that replace natural pervious soil with impervious construction materials. Urban planning comes into effect here because there needs to be studies as to how these areas effect the natural environment and living conditions on inhabitants. Enterprise collaboration systems refer to the use of tools and networks that enhance communication. This contributes to the discipline by providing a means of centralization of information of the area in question. System dynamics is an approach to understanding the behavior of complex systems (like an urban area) over time. It deals with the internal feedback loops and time delays that affect the behavior of the entire system. With this technology, urban planners are able to project future conditions in order to examine the consequences of future constructs within an area. Classical Architecture has a foundation in the Roman culture but, does urban planning have any historic roots that are used in today’s practice? How has the study and practice of urban planning enhanced our standard of living? Do professional urban planners start in architecture as an undergraduate or are there other degrees that can one can have before one’s urban planning graduate studies? Are urban planners a piece of the construction sector or architecture industry or is it an industry all by itself?

Critical Listening

The lecture on the Master’s of Classical Architecture focused on the belief that classical architecture is the basis for principles of the designed environment. Architects use the methods, skills, and ideals of classical architecture in order to design a visually appealing structure. They showed how classical structures are timeless and are primarily inspired from Italian, Renaissance, and European buildings. The reason why people find classical architecture appealing is due to the fact that it follows two main concepts that are the center of this discipline: scale and proportion. Each person would show how their structures “fit” in their vernacular by using these key traits. The term “vernacular” was used when describing the building in context. In its architectural meaning, “vernacular” reflects the time and environmental, cultural, and historical context in which the structure exists. New Urbanism is also a term that is new to my ear. It is an urban design movement where the goal is to reform real estate development and urban planning by eliminating sprawl. Since they only showed how European structures are the foundation for classical architecture, have other cultures developed their own form of Classicism or are they also based from the same foundation? Also, they stated that the majority of buildings in the United States are classical buildings. There are also different stylistic movements as well, like art deco and modernism, and I was wondering whether the ideals or principles of Classism had any influence on these other forms of architecture that have a different appearance? Finally, throughout history, there are always individuals that create a social change, but why has classical architecture lasted for so long?

The Solar Decathlon Lecture demonstrated the idea that it takes a group of people, who specialize in certain discipline’s, to construct and develop a successful house. Their main goal was to build a house that operates solely on solar energy. Not only did they need to make the structure architecturally appealing, but they needed to take into consideration the functionality of the house. The presentation was structured to show how the parts of the house were put together to make the whole. He showed how each piece needed to have a balance of three concepts: sustainability, functionality, and aesthetics. A key question to ask in the developmental stages was how to decide which of these components was most important when it came a certain part of the house? Also, if they had to compromise structure and sustainability, how long will “green” houses last compared to an ordinary house? In order to create the most energy efficient house possible, they used SIP panels for the walls. These panels are a composite building material that consists of a sandwich of two layers of structural board with an insulating layer of foam in between. The group also had to take into consideration the building envelope, which serves as the outer shell that separates the interior and exterior of the building in order to protect the indoor environment and facilitate climate control, in order to maximize energy efficiency. This competition is supposed to support a “green” structure, but to also show that it can become cost efficient as well. I wonder how long it will take for a Solar Decathlon house to become more cost efficient than a normal house of an equivalent size?

The CADCAM lecture focused on the process of design. The presentation was broken down to show each step of design for some of the installations for the Architecture building, from the conception to the assembly. The process has changed significantly with the introduction of technology into the design process. The main difference between the “old school” version and the “new school” methodology is the feedback loop. By using the loop process, the designer can create simulations and prototypes to visualize how the structure will hold and react to the environment. “Combinatorics” is a word that was used that I never heard before. It is a branch of mathematics studying the enumeration, combination, and permutation of sets of elements and the mathematical relations that characterize their properties (definition from the powerpoint). I believe this means how the parts work together as a whole, which is similar to the Solar Decathlon. He also introduced “The Alphabet” in a different context. It is the pieces or molds that when put together form the entire structure. It seemed that the installations were only built by architecture students, but is it relevant for industrial design and building construction students as well? When it comes to building these installations, how does it help towards understanding and enhancing one’s studies of architecture, building construction, or industrial design? These structures are also very abstract and I wonder where does one get the inspiration to create a structure that they are not likely to build in their professional career?

Observation, Description, Specutlation

Wooden Installation

Description: The installation inside the atrium of the West Architecture Building provides a connection of all three floors of the building. It is compromised of a processed wood. My observation is that it either plywood or fiberboard. Each individual strip from the floor to the ceiling is comprised of sections of wood that have been cut in the desired shape in the shop in order to create the flowing effect from the ceiling to the floor. The pieces of the strip are connected by wood glue and screws. In order to keep all of the separate strips/ rows of wood together, they were fastened together by horizontal rods throughout the structure. There are areas where the gaps are wider towards the bottom, and this is due to the fact that they are connected by shorter rods and they are fastened and bent in order to create the opening. The structure is braced to the building at the terraces of the floors; however, it does not appear to be bolted or fastened to the floor, which indicates that it was constructed from the top floor down so that it could rest from its fastenings at each level of the building.

The installation appears to flow from the ceiling. It has a consistent width, but there are many different waves or humps that distort its symmetry. The upper sections create more of a flowing effect due to the walk ways that it must cross over on its way down. The section that runs from the second floor to the ground floor simply cascades to the floor after having traveled through its many obstacles. Its width is determined by a niche in the second floor were the terrace stops. The installation is essentially composed of layers. It was built in different stages meaning that one layer of the structure would be built across. This conclusion was reached by seeing that each piece of wood is cut at the same spot across the installation.

Due to the fact that the installation is located inside, it is not subject to the conditions of varying weather. When viewed from various angles, one can see a different structure in a sense. From a view that is straight ahead, one can see the Architecture Library behind it. When one moves further to the right or left to create a greater angle, the installation becomes “solid”. At different points of the day, light either moves along its surface or hits it from different places. This further enhances the idea of flowing.

Speculation: Throughout the description of the wooden installation I have hinted at this sense of flowing. However, it is not the flowing of a waterfall, but that of light. As I ascend each level of the building, I realize that there is more natural light at each level. I believe their main objective was to develop a way to bring the light to the ground floor, where there is a lack of natural light that can enter the building.

The students who created this structure must have considered numerous options on how to achieve their goal. The first and broadest idea they probably considered was how and what could connect the different levels of the building. After reaching a conclusion, they had to decide on a shape that would work best for the goal that they are trying to achieve. Also, they had to formulate a plan as to best connect the hundreds of thousands of skinny pieces of wood from the top floor to the ground. Materials must next be considered. I am sure plastic was considered, but the point was to see the light flowing from the top to the bottom. The processed wood allowed for a bright material that has shape, a definite volume, and can be manipulated into the desired shape.

The image represents that of a flowing substance. Upon my conclusion that the designers are trying to achieve a sense of light, I would name it “Cascading Light”. The word “cascading” comes from the movement of the installation because it replicates that of a waterfall. One can only imagine the endless hours put into the construction of this massive structure. Also the tedious effort put into connecting each strip together. It is enough to drive a sane man insane.

Acrylic Plastic Installation

Description: The exterior installation on the West Architecture Building provides a sense a movement from a solid base and expands towards the first floor. It is composed of an acrylic plastic. It is made by connecting many layers of the plastic material on top of one another in order to create a solid base. It is attached to a solid block of cement instead of the brick surface due to the fact that bricks are put together in pieces and are more susceptible to moving or cracking. The concrete will create a solid base. As the installation moves towards the left, the strips of plastic branch off and expand in different directions. It eventually reaches the concrete connection between the column and the Architecture Building, where it creates a flat end surface made of different plastic strips. The various sheets of plastic are connected to one another at joints. From these joints, the pieces flow in their own direction. There is also an area between the solid mass and the disheveled pieces where there are places where the sheets form a tunneling effect.

The installation has a free flowing shape. On the right of the structure, it is much more organized and solidified. As it flows left, it tends to lose its organization, and it tends to lose the definite shape that it started from. The shape is also wavy due to the lack of straight lines, but uses the wave to create a sense of flow. It takes on the geometry of a two distorted cones connected at their bases. Its shape and geometry allow it to be well proportioned with the windows of the first floor building. The installation connects the right edge to the first column. It moves along the pane of windows. It is composed of thousands of pieces of manipulated plastic that develop a sense of expansion and movement from order to “chaos”.

Due to the fact that it located outside, the installation is required to withstand the elements of rain. The plastic material will hold up to all possible precipitation that Atlanta has in store for it. The plastic is a dense material so it is difficult to see through as the pieces become more and more disorganized. The wavy qualities of the material cause light to reflect in different directions. Light appears to move along the surface throughout the day, which further enhances the concepts of flow and movement

Speculation: I believe the designers of the installation were motivated by an expanding material that starts as a solid and expands to a different state of matter. The main research question that they encountered was how to represent a scientific process through a creative and artistic medium.

The design process takes numerous labor intensive tasks. First, they had to create a design that would enable them to achieve their goal. They needed to formulate a scheme and find a material that allows them to twist and turn the material to create the wavy expansion and connect the pieces at the layered joints. They final step was to find a effective method of constructing the installation, probably scaffolding, to hold it upright until it is attached to the elevated base.

The acrylic plastic installation reminds me of a solid changing phases by developing from a solid to a vapor. With that intent, they are trying to simulate the expansion of molecules. Therefore, I would name it “Expansion”.

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

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