more from Pathways, Edges, Boundaries

This is what we thought to be our final design.  It consisted of 16 ( in sets of 4) squares around the pole in a square pattern and 3 circles in between each set of 4 (for a total of 12).  There are 7 rectangles in the curve on each side of the island, with room to place a column on each end next semester.  The measurements are circles: 8" diameter and 2" deep, Squares: 8x8" and 2" deep, and the rectangles are 9x16" and 2" deep. 

The cardboard cast represents where the pole will be located next semester.

When we went out on Sunday night before the presentation, we realized that we would like to have one more circle in each set (totaling 16).  So next semester we will cast 4 more to complete our design.

This photo also shows the design on our stones.  It is a square design on the circles and vice versa.

The final design.

Pathways, Edges, Boundaries-Throw up sheet and first model

We were assigned a project called "Pathways, Edges, Boundaries," in which we were supposed to, as a group, create some sort of artifact to be placed in the islands located in the parking lot and on the buildings edge.

I was placed in the group named "Wayfinding."  We quickly decided it was not a sufficient name, and since we were located between the "Desert" and the "Oasis," we would rename our island the "Mirage."  We were different from the other groups because we had to work with an Emergency call pole in the middle of our space.  This was a great challenge, and many of our ideas continuously failed due to trying to work the pole into our design.

Our original design consisted of 3 concrete forms on either side of the pole (see drawing above).  They would have an angled side which mimicked the shape of the call box located on the pole.  There would be circular cutouts on each artifact to deal with light.

Our idea changed a little when we decided to have 3 artifacts on the left side of the pole and 4 on the other side.  We also added letters in each box that spelled out "Art" and "IARC" to honor those who study in our building.  

All of this changed, however, when we were told that the artifacts we planned to make were unreasonable for our project.  They would be too large and heavy, as well as potentially dangerous to anyone that needed to rush to the call box. Other things that changed our design once or twice more was when we got together as a class to decide on  concepts and commonalities between each group's design.

Commonalities:

-Circles/Squares

-Waves/Texture

-Light/Shadow

-Ground Plane

-Vertical Columns

-Direction

Concepts:

-Interactive

-Progressive

-Gateway

We stuck with the three concepts listed above, and we all agreed that circles and squares were our strongest commonality and each group built on that even more.  So, our design changed completely.

Dialog Commentary

How is dialog created?

Many people used proximity, movement, and a sense of openings and closings to create dialog.  The majority of the class had their two spaces connected in some way-usually by the skewers.  Some people had two completely separate pieces that had some type of relationship, like Yung's.

How is a sense of space/place defined?

We questioned each other as to if having more than two spaces was breaking the "rules."  We all agreed that it was acceptable to have more than one space because it was usually two larger spaces that defined our sense of dialog.

We also discussed scale and relativity.  Scale is an important factor in any project, especially this one.  For some people, a large scale model was appropriate, and for others a small model.  Some people chose to have their paper be the focus of the project and others chose the skewers.

How is the idea of system generated?

Through a sense of negative and positive space and how the structure is formed.

How is scale utilized in the project?

There are equal conversations.  The two spaces are equal in size.  Also, the ratio of the skewers to the size of paper is important.  Some people chose to use skewers with the full 4x6 piece of bristol board, while others chose to fold the paper so that the size of the skewers and paper was proportional.

How do two-dimensional images add to the understanding of the project?

It helps the viewer see more details and it helps the artist/architect express their thoughts a little more differently than if they were just using words.

How did the initial project idea evolve?

Most peoples' initial project idea evolved from their Unity project.  A lot of people used very similar techniques and ideas as they did in Unity.

Dialog

This was my initial idea for my Dialog project.  I really like the ideas of boxes, so I decided to have two boxes with my skewers puncturing each through the top and connecting skewers in the middle.  But, I had the problem of skewers and paper left over so I had to come up with a new idea.

In my more developed idea, I have a grid-like system running through both boxes and paper in the middle to keep the flow of the grid.  But, still I think I need to develop it even more.  I decided to take the ends off the inside of the boxes and to have the paper in between folded so that the size of the pieces of paper increase.

Unity Comparison

Today in class, we were asked to compare our project with someone else's in our class.  I chose Sydney Gaskins because our projects were both very similar and different at the same time.  We both used some sort of boxes with the sharp end of our sticks pointing out.    While I used a very straight, linear repetitive pattern, Syd's used more intersections.

Syd's Model:

Unity

This was the final outcome for my Unity project.  While I feel the craft should have been better, I think I came a long way from my original idea while still keeping aspects of it such as boxes, rectangles, and a pattern of skewers.

These were my final drawings for the Unity project.

Elevation

Plan

Gesture

Contour

Unity- First Attempt

This was my initial idea for the Unity Project.  It consisted of 12 skewers puncturing 6 boxes in the same spot.  The boxes were made of 2 pieces of Bristol Board each.  It was very challenging to make the boxes because I could not cut the paper.  Instead I chose to fold them and leave them unattatched.  

Twelve Twigs- Final

I went through several different models to get to this final result.  I think there are still a few issues to be resolved but I am fairly pleased with the results.  You can see some of my process here.  

Some of my process for Twig project

I've decided to document my twig project as I progress.

My first idea was a bit vase-like.  Apparently that wasn't a strong place for my twigs.

So, then i flipped the "vase" around horizontally and attached my twigs by sewing thread around them.  I was careful to keep the triangular theme going on.

Most people thought that it was a little too large, and I wasn't crazy about the color and quality of the paper I used. 

I revised my idea, used thick, black paper, and put six twigs on each side.

Here are two different views:

Theory Hour

Today in Theory Hour, John Linn spoke to us.  He spoke to us about issues surrounding carbon reduction.  He describes us (us being the human population) as a storm.  He said characteristics of a storm were agents of transformation, construction and deconstruction, and as being a dynamic event.  He said a storm is not a thing but a process.  We, the storm, are causing global warming.  

He then introduced an idea called Architecture 2030.  This revolutionary idea was developed by popular architect Ed Mazria.  It deals with decreasing our carbon footprint and reducing and finally the termination of the use of carbon in building.  Right now his main focus is to decrease carbon in buildings already in use.  He got together with AIA and formed a baseline of carbon use so that by the year 2030, carbon use will be neutral.  The relative use of carbon use in building operations was immediately reduced to 50%.  Every ten years, it goes down about 10%, so that by 2030, there will be no carbon use.  Architecture 2030 was adopted by adopted by American institute of architects (AIA) and it is supported by groups such as ASHRAE, IESNA, USBGC, and DOE.  Linn also showed us how to access links on our interior webpage to learn more about Architecture 2030.

Interim Critique- Common Problems

Today, our class had an interim critique for our "Place for Twelve Twigs" project.  We split into three smaller groups, which I found made the critique go much more smoothly.  I saw a lot there that I though to be very nice looking projects.  Many of our iterations faced similar problems though.

For example, much of the craftsmanship on the iterations I saw today was at a very basic, messy level.  I saw a lot of loose, jagged edges.  This could be solved simply by using an x-acto knife to shave the edges or sand it down with fine grain sandpaper.  Several projects had holes cut too large.  The shape of the holes did not support the twigs.  A few projects lacked adequate structural support.  I noticed that somehow there were a few people in our class who didn't incorporate twelve twigs into their iterations.  I didn't understand that.  There were a few other problems like scale of the sticks compared to scale of the support but i felt like the biggest deal was craftsmanship.

"A Place for a Leaf"

This is my final leaf project.

Precedent

homebysunset.com

This Vase filled with twigs and flowers reminds me of my project.  When I made my model, I thought it looked a lot like a vase.

TWIGS first attempt

Ideas for Project 1 (Leaf)

3D ideas for leaf project

first ideas for leaf project

I'm not satisfied but i was just playing around with some new materials.