Opus week 9

Craft : Public/Private : Technique : Language : Virtual

Technology has made much advancement over the past century. With the help of the industrial revolution, architecture has come a long way. Not everyone fully accepted the new techniques that were coming about in this new era. Designers as well as architects alike were re-writing rules once again that would forge a new way into the future of architecture and design. It was this new technique of thinking in a modern sense that machines came to be used widely in the production of materials. Cast iron and glass were among the most important new materials that were used in the 19th century. They were easy to incorporate as well as fast to produce.
Although these new materials were now fast becoming trend among many designers. Of course there were still those out there that opposed the idea of having mass produced objects, among those was the infamous William Morris. He believed that design should be natural and organic not to mention entirely hand-made. His entire craft depended on being made without the use of a machine for production.

This is my interpretation of a modern residential space. It shows simplicity and style without all the small ornaments on the façade. The landscape is small and quaint.

Design in that time had really come into its own. Now that there were more choices available, architecture along with design became a craft. Nevertheless, this is how the Arts and Crafts movement began. As old rules were considered and re-written, new rules were also documented and have made it to the present without any changes. All of those rules are what have lead the world into this new direction of choosing more than one avenue unto which design will go.
As magazines were becoming mainstream, it was obvious that the language of the society along with their opinions was going to change. While classism was the preferred choice in design, more and more designers were fighting for a new style and looking on to the future. This is where the modern idea came about. Suddenly architecture, furniture, and interior design overall were becoming transformed with new technologies and ways of interpretation. This added to how the language was being viewed. As travel became more common around the world, people’s view of architecture began to change. The language of new design began to spread and with it so did the various ideas.

Coming from the renaissance and the baroque style of architecture, the modern style brought on many changes. For instance the bedrooms of the modern era became way more private than they were back in the day. There were areas that were designated for public use such as activities with the family and other special occasions. Thus giving a definition to the public/private division of space within design.

This is my example of a space being public and private at the same time. The small circle off to the side that is enclosed within the larger circle has its privacy. While the large circle has more space for other objects.

Virtually everything had major changes within the world of architecture and design. Ornaments and accents became something of wonder and adoration. People were incorporating more art within spaces and being more educated about the process of design. Mass production made this possible because now everything could be made fast and easy. Time was reduced in half.

Reflection:

Overtime, from the ancient time up to the modern era of design, architecture has shown a lot of techniques. As these techniques were being perfected, they eventually became part of a craft that is to this day very important to our society. Many things surround this craft, thing such as language, culture, and even common sense. Craft is how we communicate to others our interpretations of certain feelings and emotions. The public and private spaces keep us in tune with what is appropriate and what should be shared among the world. This leads me to say that virtually every design has its good and bad as well as its little details that make it worth paying attention to.

Precedent Analysis Writing

Tate Modern London

The history of Tate modern has very different paths. The Tate modern gallery and the actual building upon which it stands today have both come a long way. The original location of the gallery was on Millbank in London which has been there since the 1500’s. However due to the growing amount of art that was available, the building needed to be something of a bigger size. The administrators of the gallery decided to either construct a brand new building or to restore an old one. In this crucial time of relocation, the opportunity that was an old power station came forth.
The Bankside power station was built in 1947 and closed in 1982, giving it a perfect time span before it was to be re-opened as an international art gallery in May of 2000. Going back to the construction of the great power station, it was something of immense creativity. The designer Giles Gilbert Scott had great aspirations when he built this structure. With the western side of the structure being build first, it was ready to start generating power in 1952.The building was divided into three having a turbine hall, the boiler room, and the switching room. The structure is 200m long with a chimney that extends 99m in height. When compared to St. Paul’s Cathedral which is just across the River Thames, it clearly cannot compete with the grandeur of the dome. It also consists of about 4.2 million bricks, a number we would nevertheless expect out of this structure.
When the Bankside location was chosen it was time now to choose architects that would make this gallery into what it ought to be. Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron were chosen to restore this old building into one of the most talked about galleries in the world. The evolution of the building was amazing. Given that the original gallery was established to include only British art, the new and improved gallery now consisted of international exhibitions. The kind of art that is displayed is that of Surrealism, Minimalism, post-war abstraction of Europe and the US, along with some important movements which include Cubism, Futurism, and Vorticism. This is just a taste of what u can experience at Tate modern.
As far as education goes, much of the gallery is usually focused on engagement with the art. For example, the great turbine hall in the center is a space that can store extremely large sculptures and with that people are invited to be a part of that, to walk in and around these sculptures and to engage with art itself. This in turn builds a great critique and along helps the visitors and the viewers discuss art and sculpture with more information as with personal experience.
Looking on to the future there are surely to be new exhibitions as well as extensions to the building. This structure has proven that a low end area of a city can indeed improve and change the entire view of the surroundings. Since its opening, it has attracted more than 30 million people making it the most visited art gallery in the world. One of the additions to the building is called The Tate Modern 2 which is going to integrate modern and contemporary art in the future. It is also making an effort to be more environmentally friendly. In addition to the future extensions to the building, the gallery is also extending its hands out into the community by hosting workshops, development groups, senior events, and more. Overall, this gallery has really come a long way and it’s great to see that for its location it is not only convenient but also worth visiting.

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/