opus week 8

Rotation : Movement : Reflection : Source : Illumination

With any design or idea we must have a source. It could possibly be a place of inspiration, or even just a random thought. In school we know sources as citations for other peoples work that we incorporate into our own, and also as a foundation for any idea that we plan to elaborate on. Another way I like to think about sources is as a unit of measure. For example in biology, we know that everything is made up of atoms. Atoms are then a source for life. In addition when we talk about life, I can also say that life is made up of centers. Centers are therefore a source once again. As designers , it is beneficial for us to know what our sources are and where they originate.

The picture above shows an atom with its electrons and protons floating around. This gives us an idea of how things must interact with one another in order to form something incredible such as a life.

To be able to create designs that are appealing as well as understood by most, I personally think that one should have a style of movement throughout their thinking process. I think movement by itself can be interpreted in many ways. We can look at a Farris wheel, it has physical movement in that it moves in a circular motion. Also we can look deeper and analyze movement in an artwork where it is on a flat surface. In my opinion, if a design creates movement in the viewers perspective, then it has done a great job in providing a flow throughout the piece. Fluidity is an important aspect when architecture is involved. It radiates a sense of flexibility as well as versatility for most cases.

Hokusai's "Mount Fuji off Kanagawa" is a moving masterpiece full of movement and life. My version is of coarse not as detailed as the original, but I think it still depicts the characteristic of motion pretty well.

Within designs and architecture overall, its always important to be able to create details that illuminate a part of that design which will later become interesting to the viewer. We can always look at the lighting in a certain building and be able to describe the feeling it exhibits. For example when we go grocery shopping, in most super markets the lighting tends to be fluorescent. It is simple and probably cheaper for those grocery stores to afford. It is also better for the environment. However fluorescent lighting is not always flattering on ones complexion, it tends to make people look older. In contrast, incandescent lighting has the opposite effect. It tends to be more gentle not only on a persons complexion, but it sets a mood of comfort in any room. Illumination is what gives a space its appeal. If we get a feeling of warmth from a space, then we feel comfort. On the other hand, if a certain space was to transmit a cold feeling, we would probably not feel at home and we would most likely treat this space as something that is above us.

When we think we associate a light bulb with having a brilliant idea. That, I think, is a great way to also associate illumination. Designers often strive to shed light on whatever it is that they are putting out into the world so as to not have it be completely misunderstood.

We as humans evolve, take form, manipulate, transform, and often times our ideas rotate. With each revolution we discard old, unused information and adopt new, interesting information. Its only in our nature to recycle, whether that be our trash, or more importantly our thoughts. This week as we discussed revolutions, we mentioned that rotation is an essential part of this process. A rotation can be described as something versatile in a flow. Often times, we find furniture to be in a group of popular objects in rotation. We can find armoires used as closets that are a part of a collection. Also we see this with bedroom sets. Each one has a bed, a chest drawers, sometimes a mirror, and a side table. all of these things work together to form something that is whole.

This chair is of many from the period of when revolutions started to have a significant effect on society as well as design. For every table there were also chairs that were designed to complete this idea of a dining set. This particular chair does not have arm rests but that does not mean that it was the only kind of chair. Intricate designs were very ideal for this period, which people got used to over time.

From the ancient times, with the expansion of empires and the frequent battles over land, we began to see that architecture sort of emulates this idea with its buildings being able to spread and have weight distribution. I would refer to this as a reflection to the ancient world. When we look to history of architecture, we can look at many eras and still be inspired. I think that is that design is all about. It is good when people create new ways of doing things in addition to new approaches. Also I believe that if we can reflect on the past, we can revive what was once admired and bring it back in a new style that would still have a sense of attractiveness

This is my interpretation of Carter's Grove Plantation which is a Palladio inspired villa. This particular house shows how expansion was used to show status of one's wealth. It spreads horizontally so that it looks larger, however we do not the exact dimensions just by looking at it. The landscape for this villa can only be expected to add to its prestige.

Reflection: architecturally speaking, it is vital that sources are incorporated in what ever we are seeking to accomplish. I think that if we didn't have those foundations, we could not have a stable idea or design. Also, for that design to be able to have its structure and have its specialty, its movement should be addressed. When we think about movement, we should ask ourselves, "How can it evolve?" also "Can it stand the test of time?". Answering those questions leads us to the illumination of details. Those answers highlight what is going to be special about a certain space or a given idea. It is a bonus if that idea can rotate and have many different faces to it. If it can be put in a category and yet still have its versatility. Although, as we face difficulties throughout any process, we often have to reflect on past experiences in order to move forward and create outstanding designs.

Citation: Scott, Alan J. (2002) Daddy's Stories About Rocket Ships, Dinsaurs, Trains and More... Mar. 31, 2009 (http://physics.uwstout.edu/geo/bedtime/daddy%27s%20stories.htm)

Alternatives

Villa Rotunda >

With the renaissance being in the past and people now looking on to the future, there began to be new and more innovative ways of doing things. As the baroque style emerged, it was clear that a new era had arrived. With the ancient world still being a very important part of architecture given that it is the foundation to almost all forms of design, it is now time to take a step forward from that foundation and build on to it. As the renaissance came to an end, people showed demand for a new way of life as well as new structures and simplicity. The baroque style was all about taking the rules of the ancient world and the renaissance and re-writing them to suit the fresh new style of Baroque.
During this new style there were now more people who were employed to do the job. There was not just an architect or just a designer on the job, there were several experts who were to work together and establish an understanding between one another about what was to be designed and built. In Italy it was mostly controlled by the church. “This resulted in guidelines established by the church for the use of artists and patrons; artistic works for the church had to communicate biblical truths and, among other stipulations, to strictly follow specified propriety in the treatment of nudes.”(152) Art was now as important as the actual architecture. We begin to see that details were not just plastered onto a façade; instead they were actually embedded within it. “Architecture, painting, and sculpture were merged in a way that did not capitalize on the unique properties of each medium; rather, architecture assumed the pliable properties of sculpture, or architecture and sculpture took on the properties most characteristic of painting.” (153)
While in the renaissance, it was all about reaching up towards heaven. This was where the strong hold of the church came to be fully established. In the ancient world it was all about the verticality, although now as things were changing dramatically, horizontality became the new wave of religious thinking. The renaissance gave way to a more relaxed way of living. It brought about the construction of villas and country houses outside of the city as opposed to small apartments within the crowded city walls. This gave people more time to themselves as well as a place to have peace without any worries. Due to this simplistic way of life, design began to be looked at in totally different ways. Architects were more prone to test boundaries and see how far they could set their goals. This of course gave way to breaking of the rules and thinking outside of the box. The Baroque period definitely broke the sheltered idea of classical architecture and design and opened up a new chapter on the world and how it was to be viewed. The result to this change was a more holistic view of the world, things had more meaning now than they did in the past because of the new rules that’s were incorporated.

citations:

Blakemore, Robbie G. History of Interior Design & Furniture Second Edition

Tate Modern Deliverables Articualtion

Views and Perspectives that will be produced:

Ground Floor: Tickets, latest exhibition, shop, cloakroom, Clore information room, Clore education center, McAulay studios, bathroom.
Second Floor: Café, Seminar room, Starr auditorium, Shop, latest exhibition, bathroom.
Third Floor: Various rooms for latest artists, UBS Openings: Paintings from the 1980's, bathroom.
Fourth Floor: Two of the major exhibitions, shop, espresso bar, bathroom.
Fifth Floor: Various rooms as galleries, Conceptual Models: Recent Contemporary Acquisitions, bathroom.
Sixth Floor: Members Room
Seventh Floor: One of major exhibitions, bar, east room, bathroom, telephone area.
-Also Views of the main enterance.
-View from across the river.
-Birds eye view of the building.


All of the views produced will be done in quarter inch scale and with ink on paper.

Essay Outline

I History
Organization.
Actual Building Process.
Major people involved.
II Evolution
How it expanded.
What sort of art do they show.
How it is educational.
III Present/Future
Additions to the building.
Community involvement.
Memberships and publicity worldwide.


Questions/ Comments
I hope I do this right.
Will I have enough material to write everything I want to express?
Are there any magazines or books that specifically talk about this building?

week 7 opus

Periphery: Portfolio: Process: Perspective: Professional

When we look at our culture today, it has changed over time. Not only are we more advanced technologically but also mentally. Nowadays we think about more then just the size of something, we have to take into consideration its boundaries, how far it can go, its periphery. In the ancient times, emperors were all about how much land they could acquire. These days, that idea has is a strong foundation of the way we build and design. I believe that in order to achieve a good sense of boundary, the designs that we conceive have to be thoughtful and wholesome. The best way I can explain that is by illustrating a house with a intricate landscape design. For example, there could be a farm and all around it would be the are surrounding it. This area would consist of pastures, meadows, various roaming ranges for livestock. All of it, of coarse, would have to extend to a certain boundary. I would imagine that this boundary would be marked by a fence of some sort. This idea shows that the land around the farm, as large in size and scale as it may be, is the periphery of the farm.

Sketch of the Villa Barbaro in northern Italy.
This villa shows that the plan of the building is one room deep, the landscape around it also plays an important part which enhances the magnificence of the actual villa. The vast garden which is shown in front of the building gives the villa a grand stature.

It takes a lot for a design or even an idea to become what it's destined to be. We can't simply imagine something and expect it to be constructed exactly that way. Maybe some designers achieve that goal but most tend to change and tweak some things around before coming up with the final product. But where do all of these ideas go? To a portfolio of coarse! Every designer, artist, and architect needs a portfolio or a collection of their work from idea to actual product. This collection most often consists of sketches, drawings, photographs, and even paintings that depict the idea the artist is trying to convey. Mostly, portfolios are a good way to keep all of ones ideas in one place which a person could easily transport with them.

Schawbel, Dan. (August 21, 2008) Personal Branding Toolkit- Part 2: Portfolios. March 17, 2009 http://personalbrandingblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/personal-branding-toolkit-part-2-portfolios/

Through life, we always have to take steps to get from point A to point B. These steps don’t always lead us in the exact direction we hope to go but they do teach us important lessons along the way. Steps are taken to describe a process someone is going through. Every artist, every designer, and every person has processes that they conduct which helps them do their job better. In architecture, certain processes, which became more and more advanced, were able to evolve and in turn shape modern architecture to what it is today.

This dome which was created by an extraordinary sculptor/artist, Andy Goldsworthy, is made of driftwood and sits on a shore line. He built this using a process which took several hours. Every piece of driftwood has to be strategically placed so that it does not come apart while it is being built. He like to leave an opening at the center of most of his sculptures so as to represent an idea of wholeness. Personally I think the opening in the center gives the done a mysterious feel, almost as if I want to know what is inside. As this dome floats onto the sea, each piece of driftwood floats away slowly one by one. His whole process for building the driftwood dome is to have it self destruct naturally.

The way I see design can often times be very different from how my friend or a complete stranger sees it. I like when something is unique, something that is worthy of catching my eye. However that might be something another person would consider the most obtuse thing in the world. This is where perspective comes into play. The way we choose to look at certain things is our own perspective. There are those perspectives that we learn in art classes such as two and three dimensional perspectives. But I am trying to step outside of ordinary art classes and propose the idea that perspectives are many times decided by the viewer.

This image is another sketch of a sculpture by Andy Goldsworthy which consists of a piece of rock in the shape of a triangle, sticking out from various other rocks in the ground, also with small pieces of ice connected together by snow to form a curvy shape extending upward. This particular piece is set on a sea shore so that it is overlooking the water. When the sun sets, the lighting causes the ice to glow providing a beautiful contrast against the dusk as night is falling. When I saw this, I thought it was purely magnificent, it was in complete awe as to how this process took action. I guess from my perspective, I saw it as something that was working with the sun set to create sheer beauty.

In any design course that we take, we have to learn the basics about design ideas. We have to learn the history behind them and the philosophies and theories that go along with them. Starting off is always about the information and education a person can get about anything they are pursuing or studying. Not until that person has mastered the knowledge can they become a professional at whatever they strive to do. A person does not have to be a professional to understand the concept of design. However, in order to have any say about legitimate ideas and concepts of those designs, there must be some level of professionalism present. Obviously for architecture to survive, there was almost a requirement for professionals who were able to manage and coordinate the construction system or else the structures that were built would be otherwise be unimportant.

Bey, Lee. (Sept. 22, 2008). Thoroughly Modern Peterson. Lee Bey: The Urban Observer. http://leebey.com/blog1/2008/09/

This building is not only of modern build, but it is also conveying a very strong sense of professionalism. To me this looks very clean and sophisticated with very little detail. It's not unexpected but it does look quaint. This is definitely a place where one could hold an office or maybe even a studio.

Reflection:

As with any piece of artwork or a particular design, we as designers have to know how far we can take it. We have to know the periphery of any idea we want to bring to life. However in order to bring that idea to life we have to take steps and establish a process. This process will more then likely lead to a strong portfolio which we can then use as a foundation for that idea. We can look at the product in many different perspectives, which is good for versatility. Although as our designs become more developed, they will eventually enter a stage of professionalism. This is usually the stage where the final product gets to be shown off and critiqued. Overall, through any process, we have to take steps forward as well as back in order to create that object which we want to express to the world.

Foundations Unit Summary

Throughout this unit we have talked about many topics. We have gone from the earliest civilizations and dealing with Stonehenge to the early Egyptians with the Post and Lintel system to also discussing the Gothic styles of architecture of Europe. We started this Foundations unit with introducing the idea of commodity, firmness, and delight. This basically describes the function, structural integrity, and the attractiveness of a building or design.
From this point we moved on to talk about how architecture evolved over time. There were many effects which led people of ancient times to design structures which would stand to accommodate them. Climate, region, geography, and agriculture all played a significant role in how architecture was to be portrayed. Looking back, it all makes perfect sense; it’s like saying “Of course you would not build and igloo in the middle of a desert”. For instance, the earliest people used only materials that occurred in nature such as branches, grasses, and different types of rock to attain their shelters. This process continued into the era of advanced technology and the comprehension space.
With the passage of time, people became very focused on religion and higher powers. This is where structures became something of land marks. As the royals of ancient Egypt build intricate tombs which would await their death and help with the ascending to the afterlife, the slaves along with the working class were left to believe in those royals as good like. This is also where the social structure, or better known as hierarchy, began. Centuries upon centuries, hierarchy was something people, not just in Egypt but also in Greece and Mesopotamia, looked to as a grant of power. The higher the social status, more benefits were offered to a particular person.
While everyone tried to climb the social latter people started to mark their wealth with the houses that were built for them as well as monuments that would stand for them. Over time, residences as well as public buildings began to be something to take notice of. The rise of the acropolis was something that was important in all cities across the empire. This was a place that could be used as a market place or even a place where annual festivals could be held. It was a big deal because some cities would be centered around an acropolis.
With the expansion of empires, people began utilizing trade as well as transporting ideas of different types of designs. With Egypt and Greece, the waterway was a crucial significance within the society. The Nile River offered fertile soil for agriculture as well as a means of traditional festivities. The sea for Greece was also important in that it provided food and transportation throughout the Greek empire.
Overall throughout this unit I have learned that the evolving of ideas within people is the main driving force of design and architecture. Change is important and it is never ending. Without advancements, we as a people would not have as many opportunities as we do today. Whether it is architecture, religion, or social standing, the world has to move forward in order to survive. However I do believe that the past is something we should always remember because it is, after all, the foundation of our world as it is today.

citation

image: Mace, Beki. Feb. 12, 2009. Evolution. Tutor2u. Religious Studies Blog.

http://tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/religious-studies/C320/

Opus Week 5

Presence : Precendent : Moments : Duality : Metric


When I look at how design begins to shape our culture one piece at a time, I also wonder how the sheer presence of an object or even an idea can make so much difference in the world. I tend to look at the people and the situations around me, and I always notice some common ground. In architecture however, I feel that presence is taken to the next level. I feel that the presence of a structure, whether it be a building or some sort of sculpture, is often associated with how much significance it has in or to a specific society. For example, the Statue of Liberty is a huge monument which stands for freedom within this country. That alone signifies the importance of its presence. In my opinion every piece of architecture is designed to bring about some sort of presence, something that evokes a feeling within a person. That feeling can be both positive and or negative, as long as there is something felt. Architecture is not the only subject which can claim presence as its own. We can look at music, religion, and even science to find presence. For instance, if we look at the beginnings of the Christian religion we can tell that the faith was accepted by more people, the buildings of worship became more important. Thus giving us a good example of how significance within a community results in the importance of presence.

As Constantine became emperor he also brought with him the Christian faith. The Temple of Constantine which is shown above is just my interpretation of what it looked like. I would imagine that when it was first built, it was monstrous. Being that Christianity was so important now, the structures dedicated to it would have to have been something of equal significance. Although the people were now more in tune with how they practiced their faith, the physical perspective was not taken as seriously as in the past. I, however, would disagree completely. I believe that this was the beginning of architecture in its hybrid stage.

The something is done varies with every person. Most people want to take the easy way through any task, however some people out there actually want to invest their time in details and precision. Then there are those who rarely perfect both, those who can work at a fast pace and still be very aware of details which can sometimes make or brake a project. I can safely say that I am not one of these rarities. I like to follow a guide and know that what I am doing is on the right track. It doesn't matter if I am dealing with school or work, homework or any old paperwork, I like to always have a plan. This is when I can best describe precedents. At first I didn't relate it so closely to myself mainly because when I looked at the actual word, I for some reason thought of government and law. However, as I think about it, precedents are embedded in almost anything. If we make mistakes, we learn from them and try not to make the same ones. That is how we survive. If there was no change in the world we as a people would not get anywhere. Whether in design or science or even religion, we take on an idea and we practice it until we feel that it is satisfactory to our own preferences. If we look at the churches over our history, we can see that with each society there were changes that led to a new and effective product. The change would have not occurred without a trial and error at some point.

The Dome view on the left is roughly one dimensional. However if we observe domes in general, we can clearly find that precedents lay at the root of this idea. The dome would not be possible without the existence of the arch. However without the post and lintel system of the early Egyptians, even the arch would be somewhat impossible. Domes did not just come to exist out of nowhere, this type of architecture had to be developed somehow. Without the precedents of ancient architects, domes would cease to exist much less have a fraction of importance in design.

Historically, architecture, music, art, and design as a whole was and still is based on moments. Moments of comfort, moments or pleasure, moments of joy, and many others. It is all moments in general that make up why we live how we live and why we view things as differently as we do. If we look at architecture, every structure was build in a moment in time. Every one of those moments in turn takes a significant role in history so to define they way communities accepted changes.




Some designs were built for a certain moment to capture a feeling or maybe even a thought. For example, the design of the pendentive was incorporated so as to allow light into a space. This light, such as those from windows in churches or even oculars within domes, are designed to capture light at a specific moment and guide it in a certain direction. Sometimes this does not play out as well as it is planned, but even the intention of it sometimes matters more.

Many times when I am asked to think critically about a design I often draw a blank. Usually I used to think that if I liked the way something looked then it was a good design. However much to my surprise, design works in a duality of ways. There are many parts that have to be taken into consideration before you can truly decide whether a certain design is good.

A system of duality can be described by the Mote and Bailey system. Having a shelter atop a hill which descends into a small valley-like ground. The two features work well together because the shelter serves as a level of royalty. This is a place where the overseer resides. However the upper level would be nothing without the small camp-like residence which sits just a few feet lower.

Measurements are taken very seriously among architecture. Almost everything that is created needs some sort of measurement system as a backbone. One unit of measure is metric. This unit is used worldwide, there are only a few countries that use the standard version. In any type of design measurements are crucial, without them we would not have the structures that we do today.

Reflection:

When I think about design and how it greatly involves the process of weaving things together. Looking back on the things that I have learned this week, I know that presence is very important in the idea of how architecture turns out. Precedents act as a blueprint as well as a guide to any kind of design. All the effort that is being out into design is basically for one purpose and that is to create special moments from the structure to the viewer. The duality is also something that u can relate to measurements because we currently have two units of measure: metric and standard.

20th Century Building

Title: Tate Modern
Date of Construction: 1947
Designer: Giles Gilbert Scott
Location: London, England

The world of design is always changing. The fashion, architecture, and even the views of the public are all associated with how design is evolving. A great characteristic of Tate Modern is that while the actual building has always been the same, the idea behind it has had many alterations. Going from a power station to a monumental art gallery is definitely something that caught my attention.
This building shows how location as well as structure work together to form an amazing idea. The gallery is considered to be one of the largest in the world. However, while Tate Modern Gallery was around way before the actual power station, they joined forces in 2000 to form an outstanding structure that conveys great simplicity from both the interior as well as the exterior.