        Shields, Ryan : AssignmentsCudda, Wudda, Shudda: An Essay on ‘Fifth Street’ 11/26/2007 Ryan Shields That lovable stretch of Fifth Street between Biltmore and the shiny new Klaus building connects several communities, and there is much more to this city street than those double yellow lines and that homeless man playing guitar will tell you, even if you slip him a few dollars. Fifth Street has changed dramatically in recent years, and its brand new hot-out-of-the-box bridge is currently on of the best in town for taking a pleasant stroll over fifteen raging lanes of Georgia highway. Something about the chance to play Frisbee two stories over an overturned tractor-trailer can get the attention of college student. That being said, Fifth Street is a good street. It meets all the criteria from being a public space to being downright dimensionable– a word not recognized by most people, books, or machines. Fifth Street not only connects… it divides. It not only promotes green space… it diminishes it. It does a lot for the average Tech student, and does even more for the entrepreneurs on the other end. A street of contradictions, lets take a look at how it fulfills the characteristics of a good street. If Fifth Street was built to move all the Ford Tauruses, Toyota Corollas, and Chevy Silverados out there from one end of the road to the other as quickly as possible, how much of a public space could it be? While the recently planted trees, numerous street lights, and clusters of social seating may have been a blur at thirty miles per hour, the renovation of Fifth Street was purpose-built for the penniless, and thereby car-less college student looking for cheap thrills, socialization, and maybe a pleasant escape from Everest-sized mounds of schoolwork. Fifth Street affects the community at large just by being so darn accessible and inviting. It’s shiny, it’s new, it’s pretty, and all in all, it’s a pretty cool place to be any day of the week. One of the objectives to be fulfilled in the reconstruction of this street was to create an entrance to the state’s finest learning institution. This entrance is a grand boulevard; friendly shops and even a pleasant little park greet any visitor before leading them to the brand new centerpiece of Georgia Tech’s campus: the Klaus building. This is a grand red carpet indeed for the over-the-top enormous and glamorous Advanced Computing Building. As an inviting place for pedestrians, the street brings cars to the party too. With parking spots lining the road in Tech Square, anyone looking for the ego-boost of having their car on display in a popular area can get a big head parking just feet from where him or her might be eating a casual dinner. As the most important and obvious piece of jewelry anyone will buy in his or her lifetime as well as an increasingly essential mode of transport, the automobile could never be shoved out of the spotlight. Fifth Street boasts such important driver-oriented features as traffic-light sensors, a separate bicycle lane, accessible parking, and most importantly, the most pleasant trip across the extremely divisive and violent I-75/85 anywhere. In an earlier incarnation, Fifth Street was a path connecting an otherwise severed piece of Georgia Tech campus to the baseball field with uninviting sidewalks and a grim cement bridge. On one end was a part of greek campus next to Russ Chandler Stadium, and the perilous journey across the bridge brought only pieces of the College of Management coupled with a past-its-prime Biltmore and other expired commercial buildings. At present, these divisions are pleasantly disappearing. The neat and almost subtle walk across Fifth Street’s main divider of the past seems to unify two pieces longing for each other. Georgia Tech’s expansion has lead to a wholeness of this stretch of road that it had never seen before. As Tech’s importance to the community grows, so its physical reach grows. The flow of this assimilation is remarkable. The merchants go so far as to blend in with the school, and the school so far as to blend in with that neat little park. Fifth Street does still follow that same path, with the Biltmore on one end, crossing over I-75/85 to Georgia Tech main campus, but now it just seems to be less about the destination and more about how you get there. Much like a palimpsest, which has had its previous text erased to be rewritten, Fifth Street’s recent development depicts the old structures being removed and new ones replacing them on that same familiar road. Though not much physical evidence is left as to the previous conditions of Fifth Street, the proof of an erasure is there even in simply the brand-new feel of the buildings in the area. The new text on Fifth Street is bigger, bolder, and more accessible. Its projections about the future have never been stronger. What Fifth Street says about not only Georgia Tech, but also the community as a whole, is that something is being done, and attention is being paid to detail. Attention is being paid to aesthetics. Attention is being paid to the pedestrian and the eye of the design-conscious. Fifth Street is a city street with trees, outdoor seating, a park, social organization, importance as access to education as well as access to economic exchange, and importance to transportation. It succeeds in illustrating not so much the past failures at achieving these goals, but the bright future in a Department of Transportation (DOT) and a city school that are actively working towards these things. As a street, Fifth Street is dimensionable in that it has measurable physical and material qualities. It has continuous scale, accounting for the pedestrian and the driver. It also incorporates a consistency of ingredients that result in a pleasant visual and tactile atmosphere. Fifth Street has geometric soundness throughout, and cars are even part of the structure, on display on their pedestals of street-side parking spots. The smooth transitions between city blocks and to campus streets are impressive, reminding all that walk or drive here of the achievement at hand. The decisive start and end, though interchangeable, make this section of Fifth Street special and important. Fifth Street is, in a very basic viewpoint, a street crossing the interstate and spanning a few city blocks. These simple qualities designate as an urban form. The surprise comes when Fifth Street reveals its unique volume and section. Not only is Fifth Street a significant compilation of events and ideas, but also it is, quite audibly, a major social hub. As explored earlier, the street as today’s population knows it is the result of many renovations, overhauls, and revivals. The product seen now is buzzing with activity. Shops flourish and integrate into Georgia Tech’s system, and new and attractive public spaces are taken advantage of as plainly a fun place to be. Fifth Street doesn’t just take up space, but it also has capacity. That same old stretch of two-lane roadway has become one of Georgia Tech’s and the Atlanta DOT’s grandest improvement projects. Its size has only grown, now including quite thoroughly a variety of restaurants, shops, living spaces, an athletic facility, social organizations, educational buildings, and areas designated for recreation. The opportunity here is enormous, and the combined value intimidating. Fifth Street’s focused comeback is both loud and well organized. But what is the purpose? Fifth Street was designed under countless lenses, some more obvious than others. For starters, this street moves vehicles, much like any other street. While purpose built to allow rapid transport, it also left room to move the runner and the walker, and even placed a biking lane in tech square. Fifth Street moves money. Because all merchants need to make money are college students, Fifth Street is that crucial connection between the supply and the demand. On the other end of that exchange, Georgia Tech reaps benefits of incorporating stores into their BuzzCard system as well as having the most accessible bookstore around right where they want it. Shops here can also provide jobs, food, and relaxation for anyone in the community. Tech Square shifts the centrality of Georgia Tech’s Student Center and other buildings. Not that the main focus should be a park and a bookstore, but the campus is expanding Eastward, and will never be the same again. Fifth Street is constructive to the city as a bridge and as a park, and this pleasant connection is a catalyst for innumerable transactions. Fifth Street stands today to promote social practices in that it encourages motion. This street is a social institution. Fifth Street advocates walking as much as it does driving– a quality increasingly rare in modern cities. Promoting the more interactive and beneficial practice of walking does service to the community. Providing a place for recreation in a void of such places takes this service a step further. Fifth Street is thought provoking– thinking being another healthy practice. After consideration, the questions arise, “What if more bridges were this accessible and user-friendly?” or “How could other difficult transitions be made to flourish like this one?” or “Would this trip be even more pleasant walking?” All of these thoughts change the standards for what a city and a city school should be. If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? The stretch of Fifth Street between Biltmore and Klaus is only important when in use. Fortunately for Fifth Street, it is both accessible and attractive. The result is pretty important. This street comes alive through actions of people. It is only through social events and exchanges that Fifth Street becomes a theater to display its born-again greatness. It thrives on its own accessibility, and reaps the benefits of transportation as well as the social and economic exchanges throughout. The show put on by this street– even literally a movie on the green space on the bridge– invites anyone to stop and sit, or pull over and walk, or grab a bite to eat. Fifth Street is scripted and planned so that anyone might enjoy it. The current state of Fifth Street is less “Cudda, Wudda, Shudda,” and more “Could have, would have, should have.” But on a more serious note, the opportunities given to the community in the development of Tech Square and the Fifth street bridge are too numerous to complain about. There is now a void filled in the seven areas defining a “good street.” Making a name for itself by being a street encouraging more than transportation, Fifth Street marks a step in the right direction for all parties involved, and a big step at that. In my personal experience, it is worth its cost just in being an escape from the hauntingly eclectic architecture on most of campus while offering me delicious burritos at an economical rate. Others, it seems, appreciate the hookah at Ray’s, the Biltmore and Post-Biltmore, a really really cool bookstore, Starbucks, a nail salon, a quite tasty asian restaurant, a “cool” part of campus that isn’t in the north west corner, fraternity and sorority houses, a bridge over fifteen furious lanes of traffic that can be pleasant for the eyes and ears, the guitar-playing homeless man playing Otis Redding, another building on campus that looks like it belongs in deep space, and a trip to the college of management that doesn’t bite. It could be that this bridge built for the people is more important for these reasons than its “palimpsestity” or its “dimensionability.” A street is a street is a street, more than a path unpaved or paved, but only as big as its users can make it. Fifth Street has done its part and all we need to do as the community is take advantage of its huge promise as a central point for mixing work and play, which could be its most impressive and beneficial trait. Learn to appreciate a good thing. It is already the public space, urban form, theater of human action, mode of transportation, social institution, and multiple use road that was promised at the start of construction. Its plentiful benefits are anyone’s for the taking. assignment 10.28 Architecture: The lecturer for the architecture program spoke of the discipline of architecture as an ever-evolving art form, both reflective of the world outside and the space within. Architecture, the speaker claims, depicts different forms of public and private space and often shows the social and cultural hierarchies involved in the process of building a structure. He pointed to specific examples such as the (original and central) campus of the University of Virginia and it's emphasis on individualism within a community while still reflecting the social hierarchies in the education system. He also touched on installments as a form of architecture and the new directions, such as green design, that architecture is headed in. Solo-Practitioner vs. Corporate Team Leader: These contrasting cliches of architecture careers represent opposing ends of the spectrum of an architect in practice. The solo-practitioner represents a solo-venture and a sort of consultant while a corporate team leader has a management position over a team of architects. Median Annual Earning: Median annual earning is the number representing the salary most people in a certain demographic earn. Information Explosion: The reference to the "information explosion" was trying to convey the idea that humanity is in an "information age," creating and distributing information at an exponentially increasing rate. The primary issues involved in architecture as a profession and a discipline include the new directions these aspects are heading. The new international interest in sustainability, for example, has changed the way architecture is taught and carried out. Industrial Design: In this lecture, Abir talked about industrial design as a profession and also as a field of study. During the class, he touched on important topics such as aesthetics and process. Abir also used specific examples such as stock photos of well-designed products and random collages of student work he misunderstood. Tactile: Relating to the sense of touch. Aesthetics: Anything designed with the intent to stimulate the senses. Socio-Economic: Conscious of the relationship between social situations and economic situations. Some issues presented included design for specific demographics and in specific categories of design such as transportation. The speaker focused on the issue of creating people-centered products that also reacted well with their environment. The difficulties obvious in practicing these ideas also present themselves in education. Building Construction: The speaker on building construction, Dr. Kangari, spoke of the industry as a whole and it's enormous impact on all of society. Assignment: Intro to the Library Library 101 1 Bowen, Ted. “Damage Figures Become Clearer, While Officials Grapple With What Can Be Saved.” Architectural Record 11/1/2005: p. 30. 2 Brake, Alan. "With the help of Architecture for Humanity, Biloxi families to choose new homes." Architectural record, no. 194 (2006): 30. 3 Brown, Lance. “Gulf Coast Update: Rebuilding New Orleans.” Oculus Spring 2006: p. 42-43. 4 Bullard, Robert. “The Black Metropolis in the Twenty-First Century: Race, Power, and Politics of Place.” Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2007. 5 Burnside, Randolph, DeMond Shondell Miller, and Jason D Rivera. “The Impact of Information and Risk Perception on the Hurricane Evacuation Decision-Making of Greater New Orleans Residents.” Sociological Spectrum 27 (2007): 727-740. 6 Bush, George. "Remarks on Hurricane Katrina Recovery Efforts in New Orleans." Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (Washington). 3 Sep 2007: 4. 7 Campanella, Thomas. . "Urban Resilience and the Recovery of New Orleans." Journal of the American Planning Association 72. 2(2006) 141-146. 10 Oct 2007 . 8 Craig, Robert. “Hurricane Katrina's impact on nineteenth-century cultural landmarks.” Society of Architectural Historians Newsletter - Society of Architectural Historians v.49 n.6 (2005 Dec): 2-5 9 Andrew Curtis, Jacqueline Warren Mills, and Michael Leitner. “Katrina and Vulnerability: The Geography of Stress” Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved Vol. 18 (May 2007), http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=1271270881&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192041560&clientId=30287. 10 Dyson, Michael. Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster. New York: Basic Civitas Books, 2006. 11 Fortune, Mary. “Natural Needs for Natural Disasters.” Chattanooga Times and Free Press. 27 August 2007. 12 Giles, Jim. "Lessons of Katrina are Being Ignored." New Scientist 195. 2619. (2007): 8, 3. 10 Oct 2007 . 13 Grace, Stephanie. “Liberals, Conservatives and Katrina.” Times – Picayune May 22, 2007, Metro-Editorial Section, Picayune Edition. 14 Hales, Linda. “Putting New Orleans On the Green Line.” The Washington Post July 15, 2006, Style Section, Final Edition. 15 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. 16 Heitman, Danny. "In Katrina's shadow, neighborhood loyalty shines on." Christian Science Monitor. (USA). 29 Aug 2007: 9. 17 Heath, Brad, Paul Overberg and Haya El Nasser. “Census shows Katrina's effects on populations; Former residents of hard-hit areas find new towns,” USA TODAY, March 22, 2007. 18 Illia, Tony, Russel Fortmeyer, John Bergeron, and John Gendall. “Katrina update.” Architectural Record; v.194, n.9, p.36, 38. New York: September 2006 19 Kromm, Chris, and Sue Sturgis. Blueprint for Gulf Renewal : the Katrina Crisis and A. Durham: Gulf Coast Reconstruction Watch, Institute, 2007. 20 Kuttner, Robert. “An Economic Storm Surge; The Fed, Hiking Rates, Underplays the Economic Cost of Katrina.” Business Week 10/17/2005: p. 126. 21 Lee, Christopher, and Anusha Asthana. "Damage and Doubts Linger After Katrina;." The Washington Post (2006): a13. Lexis Nexis. 11 Oct. 2007 . 22 Lukensmeyer, Carolyn J. . "Large-Scale Citizen Engagement and the Rebuilding of New Orleans: A Case Study." National Civic Review 96. 3 (2007): 3. 10 Oct 2007 . 23 Nocera, Joseph. "To Be Better, New Orleans Think Smaller." New York Times 155. 5334724 Sep 2005 C1-C5. 10 Oct 2007 24 Nodar, Janet. "New Orleans' Rising Tide;." Traffic World. 20 August 2007, 25 Picou, Steven J., and Brent K. Marshall. "Social Impacts of Hurricane Katrina on Displaced K-12 Students and Educational Institutions in Coastal Alabama Counties: Some Preliminary Observations." Sociological Spectrum 27 (2007): 767-780. 26 Robinson, Erin. "Dealing with Winds of Change;." Automotive News os (2006): 6. Lexis Nexis. 11 Oct. 2007. 27 Robinson, Sharon. Title: The children Hurricane Katrina left behind : schooling context, professional preparation, and community politics / Sharon P. Robinson and M. Christopher Brown II, editors ; with a foreword by Linda Darling-Hammond & and afterword by Lynn Huntley. Publisher: New York : Peter Lang, c2007. 28 Schwartz, John. "Army Data Show a Continued Risk for New Orleans." New York Times. 21 June 2007, A 1. 29 Schleifstein, Mark. “Senate committee to speed levee bill ; Panel plans to fast-track law key to Louisiana coast” Times - Picayune (February 2007), http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=4&did=1223225701&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1192043464&clientId=30287. 30 Simmons, Ann. “THE NATION; New Orleans awash in drugs, addicts more alone than ever; Often, staying clean isn't the main problem; it's getting there, with medical detox facilities scarce after Katrina,” Los Angeles Times, April 8, 2007. 31 Sims, Benjamin. “The Day After the Hurricane': Infrastructure, Order, and the New Orleans Police Department’s Response to Hurricane Katrina.” Social Studies of Science 37 (2007): pg. 111. 32 Solnit, Rebecca. "The Lower Ninth Battles Back." The Nation 10 Sept. 2007: 13. 33 Syzerhans, Douglas . Federal disaster programs and Hurricane Katrina. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2006. 34 Tidwell, Mike. The ravaging tide : strange weather, future Katrinas, and the coming death of America’s coastal cities. New York : Free Press, 2006. 35 Voelker, Rebecca. “In Post-Katrina New Orleans, Efforts Under Way to Build Better Health Care.” JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association 9/20/2006: p1333-1334, 36 Whoriskey, Peter. "Hurricane Katrina Exacts Another Toll: Enduring Depression; Health Officials Cite Stresses of Rebuilding." The Washington Post (2007): A.3. 10 Oct 2007 . Assignment 09.30 Lecture 09.17 Architecture, Culture, and Behavior The general topic the speaker took on in this lecture was the interaction between culture, behavior, and architecture. The speaker organized his presentation by bringing up problems and the paths to their solutions. This emphasized process and decision-making. Some important topics covered included lots of statistics on obesity and hospital care. Lecture 09.19 Photography The general topic the speaker took on in this lecture was the documentation of a steel mill's change into Atlantic Station through photography and film. The speaker organized her presentation with the audience's short attention span in mind, showing interesting and unique film clips every few moments. This emphasized the intensity and scale of the project. Some important topics covered included change over time, the seeking out of themes and commonalities in areas, and the replication of older themes in newer recreations. Lecture 09.26 How to Look at Palladio The general topic the speaker took on in this lecture was the gradual decoding of one of history's most renowned and revered architects. The speaker organized his presentation in chunks of different methods of looking. This emphasized strategies covered in studio classes and the progression of ideas over time. Some important topics covered included the importance of scale and ratios in design. Reflect upon each lecture, then speculate upon the questions or challenges the material covered in each lecture raises for : the teaching/learning or curriculum/pedagogy the disciplines, the professions, and the systems of organization and economic production (what Brian Bowen in 09.12 referred to as "industry" or "economic sector" associated with the designed and built environment. Your task is to identify 4 questions from each lecture; each question should address one of the four terms listed above. Assignment 09.16 Lecture 1 (09.10): Stephen Sprigle presents a multi-disciplinary approach to disability research. In this lecture, Stephen Sprigle discussed the engineering and design aspects of modern disability research. In particular, Sprigle mentioned "International Design Appeal" which is design available for use by all. This interesting, often forgotten side of disability research is the discovery of technology that can benefit everyone as well as the disabled. Sprigle also touched on disables education studies and the interaction between students and teachers and how disabilities affect that relationship. Sprigle's studies were dedicated to minimizing a disability's impact on education. What was unique about his studies was that he and his team looked at education as a two way street and accommodated for disability on either end of the teacher/student relationship. Many an interesting phrase was deployed during the lecture. "Ethophysiology," for example, isn't a word. Though I'm guessing it was meant to combine ethics and physiology. This combination nearly makes sense in the world of disabilities research because of the researchers' objectives in both fields. "Environmental Access" refers to the attempts of researchers to increase community mobility for all inhabitants. "Myriad Foci" is a walking contradiction meaning infinite points of focus. Is there a common process in all sub-fields of disability research? How is research in such a specific field being taught and integrated between disciplines? Is vertical integration between disciplines apparent in the disability research industry? How is an industry catering to many people of lower income growing as a profession? Lecture 2 (09.12): The Industry of Building Construction The speaker in this lecture gave a very informative overview of the building construction industry. Some facts addressed include building construction's rank of second largest sector in the economy trailing only medicine, the industry's employment of over 10 million workers, and $1.1 Trillion dollars spent annually in the business. The industry is divided into three sectors: residential, non-residential, and civil or infrastructural construction. As the speaker covered the industry's present might, he also made sure it's interesting past and evolution was also made known. Modern construction techniques and organization came out of the medieval ecclesiastical boom of the early 14th century. Some terms of interest were presented as the speaker covered industry characteristics. These included "fragmentation," which means companies have very little inter-relations and can be inefficient for buyers because they may not be getting the best price available. "Economies of Scale" is the increase in efficiency of production as production increases. This trait is not a quality of the building construction business. "Ephemeral" refers to anything short-lived or transitory. How might the introduction of vertical integration affect the building construction industry? Also, how might vertical integration in the industry benefit the students of multiple related disciplines? With such little emphasis on research and development, would a breakthrough technology improving notoriously slow product delivery be able to change the face of the industry? The new trend of integrations is bringing design closer to production in the stream of things. Is this improving quality and function as well as form? Lecture 3 (09.14): Steven P. French, Ph.D, presents "Geographic Information Systems: Whenever Where Matters" Steven P. French, Ph.D, has a very long title that reads, "FAICP Professor of City and Regional Planning and Director of the Center for Geographic Information Systems." His lecture related mostly to himself and his occupation, which sounded pretty cool until the bland powerpoint slides started rolling for what seemed like hours. The lecture covered the technologies involved in city and regional planning and geographic information systems such as GPS, remote sensing, wireless, and the internet. The rest of the lecture was spent demonstrating the abilities of these technologies combined by means of grainy images. "Converging Technologies" refers to the combination of seemingly separate technologies to achieve a specific result. In city planning, the converging technologies were GPS, remote sensing, wireless, and the internet. A "continuum" is a continuous series. "Precipitously" is the adverb form of the word "precipice" which means the brink or edge of destruction. How would a city go about re-construction? For example, Atlanta is a poorly designed city and it's poor condition is only worsening it's standing in the fields of technology, green, and overall efficiency. Is anything being done? Because the task would be tremendous, would the education have to be specific to the city in such a broad discipline? Assignment 09.09 Lecture 1 (08.29): Classical Architecture and its Ongoing Influence. Each of the speakers in this presentation told of their education in architecture and they're current position in classical architecture and design. The presentation was broken up into different parts: each speaker presenting their story and views on architecture. At the end, the speakers were poorly questioned by the audience. Some new terms brought up were "modern classical," and "green construction." "Modern Classical," though an oxymoron at heart, is a phrase describing the resurrection of classical ideas from centuries passed into a new context to improve form and function of today's design. "Green" is a word just recently being used to describe designs created with regard to the safety of nature and the environment. What should I be doing now to prepare myself for the competitive job market of design? Do you see Classical architecture as an ongoing trend or just a temporary resurgence of the past? Is Classical architecture limited to suburban development, or does it have applications in the metropolis and less populous areas as well? Lecture 2 (08.31): The Solar Decathlon: Cool. This lecture spoke of the Solar Decathlon, an inter-collegiate competition to design and build the most effective "green" housing. The contestants are judged on architecture, engineering, market viability, communications, comfort, appliances, water, lighting, energy balance, and getting around. Colorado University completely kicks ass when it comes to designing effective "green" housing. Twenty U.S. schools, including tech, and three international schools are usually dominated by Colorado in the competition every two years. The competition is designed to promote the creation and integration of new technologies toward the eventual production of efficient and affordable housing, a field the U.S. is falling further behind in every year. Though the initial idea of the Tech House had design elements tied to Icarus (probably a horrible idea considering the story's ending), the Icarus elements have generally been scrapped to make way for practicality. The house will integrate unsightly systems into the structure of the house, and leave only pretty pretty design for the eye to behold. The speaker went generally chronologically through the project's train of thought, starting with background information on the competition and the construction of the building from the ground up. The speaker dealt a lot with the "green" themes also brought up in the other lecture. Also, the major influence of solar energy was prominent. Solar energy involves taking in the light-energy from the sun and transforming it into usable electric energy for appliances and house functions. Solar energy is just one of many nature-derived, low-impact (green) sources of energy used in the house. Are your hopes high for Georgia Tech's future as a competitor in this program? Also, what could this mean for the departments involved How did you learn from the collaboration between studies during the project? Do you see the new technologies developed during the process becoming a part of suburban ecology in the near future? Why or why not? Lecture 3 (09.05): Computer Aided Design and Production, Jargon This lecture covered the ever changing processes of design and production. The speaker talked about the transition from the old process of conception leading to design leading to documentation leading to production leading to assembly to the newer process that deals with conception leading to development leading to simulation leading to prototyping leading to production leading to assembly. Gehry and the study of double curvatures and complex forms was also touched on, as well as an explanation for the wooden installation (named rapunzel?). The installation was designed with regard to ease of production, construction, and assembly. This was achieved through collaborations between architects, designers, and engineers. The speaker's flow of thought skipped around a little bit, though it could be that my mind has yet to be programmed at his appears to be. An interesting thought I would like to look into more is the idea that the most important drawings in the whole projects are the lists. The lists are the schedules and the other organizational diagrams that really bring the whole project together. This speaker's constant use of jargon and psychobabble seemed pretentious. The words "combinatorics" and "unitize" came up, among others almost to the point of "phenomenological." Combinatorics is the study of the combinations of different parts. The word "unitize," strangely enough, has two meanings that are almost opposite: to put together different pieces, and also to take apart something into different pieces. Both of these are involved in finding more effective and improved ways to perform tasks or fulfill requirements. Is using longer and more obscure words an effective method of conveying everyday ideas? If so, where could I learn to utilize language in a more ostentatious manner? Do you see Computer Aided Design and Production being more available to the public, inviting a new wave of creativity in the forms of ultra-personalized products? Also, is prototyping by means of CAD available to current tech students, or is limited to expensive factories taking orders? In the programs at this university, is the collaboration between architects, designers, and engineers you mentioned reliant on interpersonal and leadership skills, or has communication been mostly reduced to technical emails and diagramming? Assignment 08.29 The large mess of transparent plastic outside of the architecture building is composed of a clear plastic, many many all too apparent nuts and bolts, and a new addition of various types of dirt and mould. It is clear to any close observers that this piece was constructed in small custom pieces due to the imposing number of joint pieces blooming with heavy-duty bolts. The overall fit into the environment around it is precise, and shows signs of planning, though the aesthetic response to such a strange growth protruding from such a traditional building is initially something less than positive. While either end represents geometry and order, the middle breaks into a more amorphous, though obviously intentional and pattern-oriented, flowing design. In the rain today, some surfaces showed their general weakness by vibrating under the stress of any wind or precipitation. Poor lighting creates an even poorer setting for such an oddity. The years passing have lead to an extremely unattractive build-up of general crud on surfaces and edges. Not even the powerpoint presentation can make the installation look good. Far from photogenic, it’s purpose seems to be… um… in the uh… eye of the beholder? It’s flimsy parts and strange shape prevent leisure and recreation, as well as it’s unappealing strangeness and dirtiness detract from any possibility of being eye candy. As for being something to muse at, all I can ask is “Why?” I could call this “Saran-wrap Extravaganza” if it had stayed fresh, but this monstrosity has aged poorly. The wooden waterfall in the main area is nearly as unsightly, but has one important function: it doubles as an awkward and uncomfortable bench on the bottom end. While filled with visually pleasing curves in a familiar wood color, the piece does not flow well surrounded by corrugated concrete. As for representing everyone’s initial thought of the installation as a waterfall, the uniform separations and straight and parallel lines with only weakly executed flexes in strange areas detract from any hint of being natural. The poorly conceived idea of something born of two opposites taking up so much space in a building constructed with directly clashing design elements leaves me hoping for more than sitting space as a motive to keep it. The eye-catching characteristic of this thing is initially size, and the observer keeps searching in vain for utility or a shard of function. Beauty? This only pleases with shock value of a wooden sculpture crawling up three stories. The construction is generally neat, and the creases between pieces are actually visually interesting. Though some errors are apparent, such as the bulge at the top-most end, craftsmanship appears good—though upkeep has slumped as scratches and trash plague the bottom landing. This is the kind of structure I could personify and describe as of the tall and awkward variety. Don’t worry, installation, I feel your pain. Link to this Page
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