Architects must feel like proud parents!!!

TURKEY DAY BLOG!!!

Ok so I have designed projects and projects and projects for sometime now for studio and various other architecture classes. But it's really interesting to see the work you design be built. I felt like some kind of parent watching his child grow! Well I haven't had any of my major work be built in the real world ( that would be even greater); however, in my Building Science class we have to build a sleeper which is just a place for a person to sleep in and to do work in if they have to. Its not anything like a house for five or cabin to move around it. I think of it as a sleeping bag that contains Semper’s Four Elements of Architecture...the hearth, mound, fence, and roof. Basically, I love to design, and was made head of the design committee for our project and it was hard. Especially trying to incorporate the billions of changes that the group decided on. However, I have made designs before in architecture class and built models for them. This was different though. Not only was the design going to get built, but I would also have a hand in construction. I have never built some I design or have every seen something I designed be erected into some kind of masterpiece. Its weird being the architect. When changes come along, people come to the architect and tell them if things go wrong or if they do not fully understand the design. It feels good....in a weird "I Love My Job" kind of way. However pics of the finish product will be posted soon!!!

Making the impossible possible

As I was looking at my design for my final project, I took a look back at a precedent that I was using and I am still amazed "Rohner ports building"

Architecture Exchange East

On Thursday, the architectural department had an opportunity to go to Richmond for Architecture Exchange East and it was pretty interesting. When we first got there, there was a lecture from an Architect at Snohetta (named after the mountain) and he showed us a couple of projects such as the Olso Opera House in Olso of course. This was one of the projects that fascinated me the most here because of the shape and design and location of the building. Also the fact that I had already seen this building in magazines and websites from previous research for as a potential precedent for my project. But the I would talk about that building...maybe at a later date. However, at the Exchange, I noticed that they were doing a lot of renovations in the downtown area of Richmond which I thought was pretty interesting. I signed up for a tour of a hotel/condominium. It was interesting how they were restoring the building and adding rooms to make the place look so nice with the old structure. We got an opportunity to go in the basement to see the old structure of the building and how it differed from the newer structure. I believe one was built in the 1920's and the other was added in the 1930's. My final lecture of the day was learning about making sustainable homes (which is something I previously learned from Shannon my second year). But I learned some valuable information about U values ( the lower, the better insulation...the inverse is the R value). Net zero homes were also disscussed and he stated that some of those homes produced more energy than needed which I thought was interesting and a something I should look into for the future (they could get money for selling there enegry to the city). Finally there was a social at the end which I didn't get a chance to stay that long but it was interesting seeing architects socializing, drinking, laughing and having a good time without having to worry about a project due the next day. I can't wait to get my degree........

Architectually Stuck! Complexity or No Complexity??

So we have gotten our final projects in Studio and I was trying to come up with a design for my building. A DESIGN!!!!!! That shouldn't be the hardest thing in the world. I start my design process first with models....models....and more models. Not as much as others though; however, I me modeling a design. Not so good at all. I have become stuck with the idea that I need to make my design so complex and different. My designs for other projects in the past were good! People loved them....well I loved them...and my designs explained my concepts very well. However, I was no pondering does it depend on the design??? Meaning, does the design have to have that complexity in order to make it appealing and well conceived or can a design still be simple. I was trying to try something complex and different; however, it just seems like my complex ideas aren't coming together like I want them to. I know I am a box man. Things that I design are kind of....square..and I know that and I was trying to explore something different. I need to know how!!!! I need help!!!! tear........Should I be complex Isiah or should I just stick with what I know?

Model Making is my gift

Today I was admiring the work I have done over the past couple of years in architecture studio and I have noticed that I have a skill in making models. I believe it is a craft that can be done very well if the proper amount of time is given to it. Believe me I know. I once spent about 3 days on my model for my fable project ( darn you curtain walls). However, capturing as much detail as possible when given a specific scale is something that I love to do. The bigger the model, the more detail. the smaller the model, the most detail I can put in as possible. Here is a picture of the post office in Newport News. We had to model the site that we were working on and I was given the opportunity to model the post office. Here is the final product of my model. I also realized that models help me visually when making my design. By doing a model first it can help craft that floor plan and sections that a designer needs. I believe Frank Gerhy had a similar method in designing. It makes design interesting in a way I would have never thought of. Thanks Peronnet! Haha