crushed it

Over the past month it's been a rush to get all of our project design ready for our final. We learned a lot in Revit and were able to pull together a great final. I'm super proud of what we put up for the reviewers. I loved the design and the renderings we were able to produce from this project. I'm so excited to get all of these into my portfolio!

Get busy living, or get busy dying -Andy Dufresne

Architecture isn’t just any profession. It requires you to visualize spaces and create space within your mind. Thinking like an architect is thinking about everything going on in building design all at once. Thinking like an architect is making a plan and having a set goal for the final product. Thinking like an architect is figuring out every minute detail to progress in the design and construction of a structure.  When I began to think about examples of ‘thinking like an architect’ in today’s media or society, I found myself thinking about Shawshank Redemption and Andy’s incredible escape.

            When I think about this movie I become highly intrigued with Andy's thought process. I think about how much he planned each and every detail to be sure that everything went exactly as planned. In Shawshank Redemption, Andy is locked up in a state penitentiary for two life sentences after being wrongly accused for a crime. In the end, we find out that since the day he got there, he was planning his escape. Over the course of almost twenty years, Andy has worked out a plan that would be set into motion on one stormy night. The way Andy thinks through each and every detail, and how he builds his story over the course of many years, allowed him to make a grand escape with no way of tracking his whereabouts. I believe that Andy was ‘thinking like an architect.’ No, he didn’t create a building, but the way he thought through the details is exactly what an architect is after. Paying attention to the small things and having a plan for every circumstance is what architects do. They need to be aware of each and every possible thing that can go wrong and plan for it. It also will take some time to get everything figured out. While it doesn’t take 20 years, it may take that long to really grasp everything about being an architect and you’ll still learn more in the years after that.

          

            During this movie I became captivated by the idea that someone began their plan so far in advance that they had time to detail every step of the scheme. However, in reality, that’s exactly what I should be learning to do in my classes at this very moment. I should be preparing myself for the projects to come and become familiar with every step in between to present the best product. Thinking like an architect is something that we learn, something that takes time, and something that will give us a plan. Planning for everything is thinking like an architect.

over the weeks..

Over the past couple of weeks, Hannah and I have begun to explore Revit more and increase our skills in the program. We've found that working in Revit can be difficult at times because we're just not familiar with most of the functions. However, we've gotten lots of help from our peers and from youtube tutorials, and I think everything is coming together pretty well.

Last week, we had the chance to present our project to a couple guest reviewers. While we were somewhat nervous about the whole thing, it ended up being a great and very beneficial experience. Not only were we able to produce some really good 'final-looking' images, we were also able to get some great feedback on our design. I felt that the reviewers really brought a new light to our project and were able to point out some areas that need some improvements.
We need to revise our amphitheater and be aware of how each individual would fee in the space. We also need to clean up our floor plan and give a clear circulation path that could be highlighted through the half barrel vault. Our entry to the children's area also needs improvements, which we were completely aware of. The reviewers gave us some great ideas for the entry and how to tie it into the existing building and our already successful design.

Overall, I'm getting very excited as we enter our last month of design and revisions and I've already got some great ideas to improve our boards and make them clearly present our design.

this is architecture.

            The author of This is Not Architecture raises the idea that “the value is no longer in the hardware.” The idea behind this statement is that architecture has evolved from being a structure to protect those inside to a building that envelops a certain feeling. The author compares this to the decoration on a can of Pepsi compared to the decoration on a can of Coke. Both cans serve the same purpose as far as the hardware goes, but the design and articulation of the label differentiates one from the other. Just as the cans use decoration to differentiate on from another, we use design and decoration to differentiate one building from another.

            I agree with the idea that the value is no longer in the hardware. I believe that architecture has taken on a new meaning. We don’t see a frame with a roof over the top as architecture; we see it as a shelter. Our eyes have begun to only translate a building as architecture when there’s an experience related to the design of the building. The design of the building has become more important than the simple aspect of the structure. The people who walk through a building should have an immediate reaction to the decoration and design of the building. The building should embody a certain feeling and give off an aura that no one can ignore. This is architecture.

            Creating a feeling in a space can be done through many aspects of design. Whether it is color, shape, or texture, all must be carefully chosen to give of the correct atmosphere that the architect is wishing to accomplish. Color alone can immediately affect how a person will feel about a space. Generally warm colors give off a more friendly and comforting space. Cool colors can be seen as relaxing but also give a literal cold feeling of sadness. Shapes aren’t as simple to dissect, but one immediately feels different if there is a dome over their heads rather than a simplistic drop ceiling. Texture through materials can also have a strong effect on how a person will feel regarding a building and space. Rougher materials can cause a more harsh feeling while smoother materials can relay a calmer feeling. However, regardless of the general assumptions related with color, shape or texture, all can be perceived completely different based on the person and their experiences. That’s what I see as architecture.

            True architecture is bringing in every aspect of design to create an atmosphere that completely embodies a person when they walk into the space. The architecture should create an overwhelming feeling within a person and it’s completely okay if every person feels differently about the space. Architecture is not only meant to keep someone out of the rain, cold, or heat, but to provide an experience. The hardware is important to the building, because the hardware makes it a building. However, the value is in the design, and that’s what makes a building architecture. Bringing design to a building is what makes an architect, and architect.

Progress Report

Over the past week we've been making tons of progress on our library remodel. While last Friday was a little shaky, Hannah and I stepped up our progress for Monday's mini presentations and I'm beginning to become more and more comfortable with our design and where we're going with our final addition. We are struggling a little bit since we're not accustomed to working in Revit, but we're moving along just fine and getting help where we need it. The tutorial over modeling in Revit (on Wednesday) was really helpful and I hope that we're able to translate all that into our model and make even more progress with those tips. We have a long way to go as far as refining the model in Revit and cleaning up our design, but I'm confident in what we've come up with. I'm excited to continue articulating our building and revising the addition to come up with the best solution to their current problems.

give CAD to the consumers

At the beginning of the century, industrialized economies were on mass production, mass distribution, mass marketing and mass media. Now, with advances in information and technology there’s a new frontier that is allowing more and more “mass-customization” to be available to consumers at mass-production prices. How will mass customization and co-design effect the architectural design process?  Will consumers be able to have a greater say and input? How much more of a building can be economically designed-to-order rather than right off the shelf? These questions are the few that are plaguing this new idea of mass customization and are important to the students involved in architecture today as we begin to transform the architectural process.

I believe that mass customization will open a variety of doors for the architectural industry and will allow the consumers to be more involved in the design. I feel like this is the window to take the clients and give them a portion of the control, which will make them feel more comfortable in every step when designing and fabricating a building. Some products can be tailored or customized at the retail outlet or dealer, which would be considered post-production customization. Other products may adapt to the user, as for example, the intelligent systems, increasingly available in cars that adapt to your style of driving, which is considered adaptive customization. However, along with these ‘post-production’ forms of customization, it is also possible for the consumer to interact with the design and the manufacturing process to modify the design of the primary product. For many products it will be possible to offer infinite choice. One of the most important distinctions running through all the different senses of mass customization is at what point the consumer becomes involved (design, fabrication, assembly, or post-production) and to what extent does the collaboration begin and end. Everything that encompasses this new idea of customization is becoming increasingly more apparent as it is beginning to be practiced. The consumers are becoming co-designers and the architect is providing more choices that are readily available to the consumer, which in turn, creates an even better relationship between architect and client.

With all these new technologies, I think the real frontier will be putting the computer programs in the hands of the consumers and allowing them to actually be apart of the design process in a way they never could before. Computerization has greatly impacted all aspects of design. Not only has is transformed design processes; it has transformed the kind of the products that can be created. CAD allows multiple designers and other professionals to collaborate in new ways, to visualize different solutions and try out different options, to keep options open longer and design different alternatives in parallel and pick up problems sooner. The design software that designers use has moved from being a tool to being an intelligent environment that can guide and inform the design process. These technologies can be put, with adjustments, in the hands of non-designers, including consumers, to allow them to co-design products by interacting directly with highly flexible manufacturing systems. Instead of designing for consumers, CAD systems will enable design by consumers. This will not only enable the consumer to be apart of every moment in the production of the product, but will also put the mass-customization process in their hands.

Libraries Libraries Libraries

Friday was extremely successful as we all presented our library case studies and began to brainstorm for our addition design. I felt that presenting these libraries gave me a lot of knowledge on how a library works and the practical layouts for a library based on their location/ setting. I also really enjoyed being able to see how everyone chose to present their case studies. It's always helpful to see multiple examples of presentation boards and then deciding which ones worked the best and why. Personally, I really liked the layout of mine and Hannah's boards, but I was also drawn to the boards that didn't have as much of a background, or even the ones that were simply white. Regardless, the presentations were very beneficial in gaining a new perspective on not only libraries, but also how to design and create a successful presentation.

Monday was, well it was Monday. I wasn't feeling particularly motivated, but I am very excited about the next step in our design process. I honestly just don't have enough experience in Revit, otherwise I'd be a lot more willing to hop on the computer and work on the topography, etc. However, I know that learning all of this will really help me out with this project and future projects. I'm ready to keep moving on our design and develop a true program for the space. After getting the chance to visit our site, and study two other libraries in depth, I feel that we have a good grasp on how this library should work and I'm so excited to see how everyone approaches the new addition design.

Library Research

Our library research is well under way and our trip to the Ringer on library was very successful. I feel that most of the students are very visual learners in the architecture program and it was extremely beneficial to get to experience the space that we'll be working on. We got to see the difficulties that face the current design and the librarian was able to give us a lot of input on what could be done and what the real issues were in the current design. I also thought it was really interesting how the librarian specifically talked about architects and how many architects don't take the worker into account when creating the design. She was able to point out so many failed opportunities that were strictly ignored by the architects. All the comments she made just made me want to design something so great for this library because these people love their job and love what they do. They should love the building they work in as well.
On Wednesday, we were able to show off our display boards to James and I feel very confident in our design. Hannah was able to find a really dynamic layout to present our information and I was able to mimic the design in Indesign and they look awesome. Now we're just finishing up the floor plans in autocad and pulling out all the information to finish up our boards. It'll be so cool to see everyone's ideas and comparisons on Friday!

The Master Builder

Over the years, architecture has lost its touch. Architecture has lost its sense of artistry and mastery. There has been a disconnect between the fine art of architecture and the economical world we live in today. Refabricating Architecture brings up a very interesting argument on the disconnect of art and commodity in architecture today. It seems that architecture either embodies one or the other of art or commodity and not both. The real question is, why can’t we have both? Why is there such a difference in today’s architecture compared to the many years before now? I believe that the answer lies in chapter two of Refabricating Architecture when the authors talk about the “master builder.” I believe the master builder is the solution to connecting the art and commodity in architecture.

Art is defined as the expression or application of skill and imagination; while commodity is defined as a marketable item produced to satisfy wants or needs. In my mind, these should be the hands and feet of architecture and should have never been separated. However, as new ways of assembling have come into play, we have lost much of the craft that commodity used to bring. The art that used to be involved in commodity has been cut out of the equation because we now have quicker ways of doing things and have divided the idea of architecture into too many fields to keep track of. When we have so many people involved in a final product, we tend to lose sight of the original plan, the original goal and beauty of a structure. We’re too concerned with cost and time now and not enough with preserving true architectural beauty.

Like I mentioned before, I believe that the master builder was able to embody not only commodity but also art. I believe that someone so skilled in all fields of completing a building has the knowledge and design ability to create something beautiful and economical. In the past the master builder was a person who was the combined roles of architect, builder, engineer, and scientist. With all these skills, this master builder was able to imagine, design, and create some of the most magnificent buildings our world has seen. In today’s world, all of those roles are filled by separate people, therefore creating a disconnect in the path to a final product. Our society has taken it upon them to divide the different career paths of architect, builder, engineer and scientist, but in reality, we need people that can do all of these things. We need to be involved enough in every step in creating a building. We should know how to assemble a building, find the products available for use, and choose which material substance is best for our design.

We have to step away from just designing the aesthetics and plan of the building and truly get to the bottom of the whole production and learn everything from the inside out. I want to be an architect that knows every in and out of a building and can discuss every step to any professional I work with. I don’t think I could ever be a master builder, like they had in the past, but I want to be a well rounded architect.

LiBrArY

Today, we got started on the research for different libraries before and after the computer age. I'm pretty intrigued by this idea of a case study and I think that by Friday, everyone is going to have a great presentation. I'm also pretty excited because Hannah found a super cool library from California, so I'm really interested in how the library was laid out and what we can take from their design to create our addition in the local library.

it was legen.. wait for it… dary

We finally got to see all the incredible, larger than life, models and they are too cool. I loved getting the chance to see what everyone was able to accomplish and see the paint choices everyone made for their final model. I'm also super pleased with mine and Hannah's final butterfly. I love the gold and silver and it's awesome having positioned right outside the studio so that we can see it every time we come to school.
I also enjoyed getting to talk about the project as a whole and coming up with new ideas for students to do it in the future. I think it would be a great design project to be able to design a new creature and work together on a base model as a class. I also thought it may be cool to create humans through this no-glue joint methodology. Whatever James ends up doing to revise this project, it will be great. I felt that this project really helped me look into building at a larger scale and becoming familiar with weight distribution and strength in joints.