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.

Call me Thumbelina

So after today, I'm getting extremely excited about the final product of our butterfly. We had some minor complications involving the thickness of our wood and the joint slots we had designed, but hey, it's all fixed now! We ended up piecing it all together in the studio today and it stands taller than me, so that means over 5'4 (yeah I'm no giant). It's awesome though and after about an hour of sanding in Hannah's garage, literally sweating everywhere, it's ready to be painted! We got some gold and silver spray paint and it's going to look so majestic. So ready for tomorrow once it's completely painted and ready to be presented on Friday.

no class did not equal no work

Today was very productive regardless of the fact that we didn't have studio. I actually got to campus earlier than normal on a Monday and was able to discuss the project with Hannah and figure out exactly how we wanted to approach this massive butterfly cut out. Tomorrow we'll be getting all of our supplies out to the ranch to have it ready and cut as soon as possible. I also worked a lot on structures homework because that seems to have a heavy workload as well. I was able to finish my homework and successfully finish the model to go along with the homework. I felt pretty accomplished for the day and I'm excited to see how classes are going this semester.

Today we got to talk about our models and the ways  we can improve their structure before we complete an even bigger model. I also got to go to work today and  paint which I love  so that was exciting and I got to make money. But class was definitely a good time and I got to learn a lot about connections and how to strengthen and revise our butterfly! I'm so excited for the next model

Throughout history, architecture seems to have been defined in multiple different ways and expressed through very different concepts. Some believe that architecture is simply expressed through buildings and that is all. While others find that many engineering processes, that include cars, ships, and planes, are also architecture. Strangely, there doesn’t seem to be a clear answer, so we must decide personally what we think architecture is and what makes an architect an architect. What makes an architect stand out from an engineer, but also the other way around. In the book Refabricating Architecture, the authors talk about the opportunity to make an Architecture with a capital A. The authors believe that Architecture is, in sense, a process that includes not only the architect but everyone in between when creating a structure, space, or mass.

To me, architecture is not only a building, or even the designing of a building, but the experience through a space. Architects work hard on explaining why they’re doing something because they want to make people realize the back story and feel integrated in the project. Architecture is everything that goes into the final project regardless of what that project may be. Architecture is the reasoning and the meaning behind each detail and the specific intention of a detail. Architects don’t typically add something for show, so I love the idea of knowing what they’re thinking and the processes that they had to use to get there.

In Refabricating Architecture the authors claim that Architecture (with a capital A) means that the design and process is not only the architect, but everyone that is involved in the construction and design of the project. That means that the clients, the engineers, the contractors and the architects are included in this process. With many structures, I feel like it could be easy for an architect to get a big head and just expect to tell everyone else what to do, but in reality, there’s so much more that we need involved in architecture. We need more for less and Architecture can provide that. We can have everyone working on a central goal and working as one. With all the skills that these people can contribute, any project can be done more efficiently and simply better. The amount of systems that currently go into a single building are overpowering and can easily be divided and conquered through many department. 

It seems that architecture, is simply the art of being an architect but Architecture is the process and if we were to employ Architecture we would be much better off in the field. The idea of using everyone to create the final result would change the process as we’ve seen it and improve it greatly. Taking and building large portions of the final product off site simply makes more sense and will completely transform the scheduling enterprise. We must design a building to not only accommodate the floors and walls, but each system that it encompasses. And we must accommodate every person that can change the spectrum of architecture to Architecture.

http://www.theprospect.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/architecture.jpg

Monday- First Day of Class- no we didn't get labor day off

Today was fairly productive considering I left my bed before 3pm. I wasn't too thrilled about having class on labor day, but I'm fairly excited about my studio. Today, we put together different insects that conjoin through cut out connections rather than a glue etc. Hannah and I also painted ours and it looks awesome so I'm pretty stoked about that. Here's our butterfly, pre-painted, in it's natural habitat.