Assignment 1 - Portfolio

Artist Studio Space Project - Environmental Design 2

Multi-media Drawings - Design Visualization 2

Ritual Project - Environmental Design 2

Luminaire - Environmental Design 1

WIndow Installment - Environmental Design 2

Keepsake - Environmental Design 1

Assignment 2 - Diagramming: Mining For Partis

Point: Theories

In our first unit this semester, Theories, we have talked about just that – a variety of different theories regarding architecture and design. There are reasons behind just about everything that has been designed, whether it relates back to a series of deep research or experiments, objects and buildings aren’t designed because they just look good.

On our first day, we talked about architecture and buildings using a comparison of a basic bicycle shed and the Lincoln Cathedral. While some may think the basic shed isn’t really architecture and that it is “just” a building, I think they are wrong. Everything is designed with a purpose. The shed was designed with considerations in mind and made to the needs of a bicyclist. This brings me to the next topic of that day, Considerations in design. There are several factors that can impact our designs: inside and outside relationships, the third dimension, the fourth dimension (time), light, color, materials, and furnishings. If all of these considerations are applied, I think that is one way to make good design.

Another important lesson from this unit was from the words of Sir Henry Wotton – “In architecture, as in all operative arts, the end must direct the operation, the end is to build well. Well building hath 3 conditions: commodity, firmness and delight.” This is great way to look at architecture and design by these three factors. Commodity in design is the ability to have function and a purpose. Firmness involves stability. Delight is simply beauty in the design and the ability to interest someone. I think there are many buildings that really can include all three of these words from Wotten. Although I think if the considerations from our first lesson can be applied with Wotten’s to make it stronger in design.

Aedicule is the way of looking at architecture and design. It is the simplest form of architecture, a roof and 4 posts basically. All buildings are made up of aedicules. This is like the foundation or building block of everything. It seems like everything that is done in the world has a similar system and building block. For example in science and experiments, there is the scientific method - a system of steps to help prepare and follow through with an experiment. With culinary, there are recipes and ways to start cooking so you can add stuff in later to change and manipulate the recipe. And in design, there is our building block and other different ways or rules to do things. Once you have the foundation, you can reflect back on the classical world, look at alternative inspiration, or explore new ideas.

The Design Cycle is another thing we learned about in this unit. This was adapted from anthropology and tries to explain why some styles last and some don’t. Many ideas can factor into why things go out of style: vernacular and high style differences, regional influences, and many others. The ability for something to stay in style must be because it is truly great design.

The nautilus shell best describes the unit, in my opinion. Roth discusses architecture being the unavoidable art and how we must design for the environment around us. Also, architecture is a physical record of human activity (Roth, 3). The mollusk builds its nautilus shell around itself to house them. It is a hard shell of calcium carbonate and the mollusk adds on as it becomes bigger, keeping the part of shell that was there before. This shell describes what Roth was talking about. The shell also is an example of Wotton’s, commodity, firmness, and delight. It shows commodity because it has a function of being the mollusks home and protection. It shows firmness because of the strong materials its made of that can protect the mollusk. It shows delight because the shell is interesting and nice to look at. The nautilus shell can be related to theories throughout this unit, which is why I think it is a great image to represent the unit.

http://www.soulsofdistortion.nl/SODA_chapter5.html

IAR 222: Reading Comprehension 1

Question 1:

The Tugendhat House, designed by Mies van der Rohe, is a great example of Wottens definition of good design having commodity, firmness, and delight. This house has commodity because of the way the interior is set up. There are no dividing walls, but planes separating spaces instead. This creates function by making it easier to get to one space from another and providing an organization of space. The materials used in the building represent firmness. Steel columns are used throughout the house providing stability for the structural load. The Tugendhat House has delight for many reasons. The steel columns are covered in a stainless steel finish, showing that it is luxurious and stylish. The way glass is used also shows delight. There are glass walls that look out towards a beautiful rural view outside, also bringing natural light inside. The way the overall space is composed is also delightful to look at with the curved wall planes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/22/garden/22mies.html?_r=3

Question 2:

China and Japan have influenced the West in so many ways, especially art and architecture throughout the years. Nature is a primary design used in Eastern art. In this contemporary textile, I specifically see influence from China. There are many bright colors used which is common to Chinese art to highlight motif. Blue represents heaven and green represents prosperity, both are used in this fabric. Natural is also common in artwork in the eastern world. Flowers are often used; typical kinds of flowers are the lotus and chrysanthemum. I can’t tell what kind of flower it is in this fabric but it looks like it might be chrysanthemum. While the bold colors and flower motifs from China are most apparent in this fabric, there are some Japanese influences that are noticeable as well. The Japanese prefer a more asymmetric look whereas Chinese focus more on symmetry in art. This fabric shows an asymmetric pattern that is balanced by swirls around the flowers that inhabit the bottom part of the pattern. Japanese motifs include whirlpool designs, waves, swirls, and circular forms – all of which are present in this contemporary textile.

http://allfreed.ru/uploads/posts/1111/13071208612479_495009.jpg

Question 3:

Everyone who is in IAR 222 is familiar with the smaller scale seating and overall lack of space. Hall says that we have to start seeing man as in a conversation with his environment, and architects are creating with no reference to man’s spatial needs (Hall, 6). Our classroom was clearly built like this – without reference to spatial needs. The seats are not only not wide enough for comfort, but there isn’t enough foot room when having a book bag on the ground, and not enough overall space between the next person.


Question 4:

"More awkwardly still, architecture asks us to imaging that happiness might often have an unostentatious, unheroic character to it, that it might be found in a run of old floorboards or in a wash of morning light over a plaster wall – in undramatic, frangible scenes of beauty that move us because we are aware of the darker backdrop against which they are set.” – Alain de Botton

To me, this quote sums up what the article was all about. I agree with Botton that there can be architecture of happiness. A building or object doesn’t have to necessarily look pretty to make a person happy. I think most everything has memories that come along with it. A house may be ugly, but if a person grew up in that same house, it probably makes them happy and therefore is happy architecture to them. The attached photo is my parents’ house and my home to go back to when I’m not away at school. I don’t really love the design of it and I hate the floorplan. But it makes me happy to be there and go home to.

Photo by: Patti Leisure

Extrapolating the Human Body - Part A

"This exercise introduces the student to observe and document the human body through anthropometric and ergonomic analysis which are fundamental to the principles of spatial design." -First sentence on the assignment sheet. This assignment has 3 parts. Part A was basically an exercise to help us get to know our body and gain an understanding of scale and how we really are. We were to devise a measuring system that we could use in any situation and overall develop an awareness of our own bodies through time.

FINAL

Full body drawing to scale with dimensions.

Sequence of time and movement, with height relation of my heal to hip measurement and the trash can.

This is my drawing that shows my measuring system and overall interest in ergonomics and how everything is designed with the human body in mind, even when we don't realize it. I use the length from my heal to my hip (35") as an easy measuring devise for me. I can go up to anything and stand there and analyze where it relates to the height of my hips, and be able to tell the approximate height of the object. I studied images of myself in various positions and found it interesting how geometry plays a part in design. While sitting on a stool with my feet on the lower bar, my knees, feet, and bend in my midsection makes a 30, 60, 90 degree triangle. While leaning over to drink out of the drinking fountain, my mouth, the fountain, and my bend makes a 45 degree angle.

PRELIMINARY WORK

Guggenheim

After learning about Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim museum in history, I've been inspired by the design and look of it. In NYC, this museum was a big controversy when it was made because the architecture was so curvilinear and completely different than all the skyscrapers and city buildings. I just love how FLW took chances and wasnt afraid to have some people hate him. SO here is my little sketch from a picture I found on the internet :)

some quick sketches

So I had planned on doing a lot of drawing this summer but I havent been in the mood until just lately (yes I am ashamed). So here are some VERY quick sketches I have done when I've had some time and been in the mood!

Who doesn't love blind contours?!

This is the fountain that my parents have in our backyard. I would like to spend some more time on another drawing of this, showing more of the pretty flowers all around it. Maybe another day this summer!