Point Foundations

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Two of the most important design ideas covered in the foundations unit were stacking and linear axis. Some of the most fundamental ideas in early design also included making protective walls or barriers. Outside attackers who wanted to steal their resources threatened many early societies. We also see this sort of protection in the serpent mound in modern day Ohio. It was also a sort of barrier protecting the dead. The first style of stacking we see is at the Ziggurat of Ur-Nammu in Sumer. It was a fortified building complex it served as the administrative center for the city. Built as a display of power it was also used to survey the surrounding landscape.

Near Sumer, further north In Mesopotamia, the site of the first civilization, pharaohs also used stacking as a way to show power. It was also used as a way to point heavenward. Each Pharaohs duty in life was to make the best possible pyramid so that Egyptian culture would continue to thrive. Egyptian society thrived due in large part to the Nile River. It was a mode of transportation and made control of the region much easier. Every year the Nile would flood its banks along Egypt depositing minerals in the soil producing mineral rich farmland for crops and vegetation. The Egyptians used the papyrus plant as a capital on temple columns to symbolize how the Nile has made their society flourish. The Nile was also used as a trade route; it was the primary means of transportation in and out of Egypt. Trade would be conducted above and below with neighboring civilizations. Egyptians believed that they lived at the center of the earth, just as Grecians thought that their society was at the center of the earth. Greece borrowed the use of columns from Egypt. Just as Egyptians used columns in building their temples, so did the Grecians. However, they added a linear plan and placed columns differently. The megaron was started in Mycenaean and evolved over time. Walking into the city, the importance of the column is displayed proudly between two protective and powerful lions. The column was used in all temple forms. Designed crudely at first, the original Grecian style column evolved over time from Doric to Corinthian styles. The city layout was also very important. On the Acropolis in Athens the entire layout is based on a battle between two mythical gods, with Athena being the victor, a temple devoted to her is placed on one side of a central court for people to gather. The Parthenon is the pinnacle of the megaron temple design. It uses for rows of columns, two on the exterior, and two rows on the interior with the statue of Athena in the center. As you move further away from the center of the Grecian empire, styles vary and local flavor is seen added to the basic design central in Athens. Athens is where rules are made. Athens is made up of temple structures and civic complexes, with the city laid out for gathering, discussion and celebration. On the other hand Rome has all the trappings of an empire. The structures in Rome are laid out to distract the people and keep them busy while politics are discussed behind closed doors. The coliseum was the center of entertainment. There, barbaric battles were carried out. The design of the coliseum is still used today. It is the best way to carry sound over a large crowd and it is visually advantageous. Romans also introduced the aqueduct. Through the use of arches, a system for supplying water to the city was built. The baths made use of this water for people to bathe. The Romans used columns for a number of structures even to line roads. The foundations unit makes clear a couple of things. One is that the use of building was used to express spiritual believes and convey a sense of awe of a societies deities and to secure a comfortable afterlife. Another theme that sticks out to me is the idea of building upward to depart from the earth.

Question 1

Florenece vs. Cologne

When comparing the Florence and Cologne Cathedral, one of the first things I notice is the humanistic quality of Florence compared to the more Gothic design of Cologne. Duomo looks to the classical style for it's inspiration. It's all about man as the measure. Brunelleschi went to Rome and saw all the domes, created during a time when Rome was known for all of its' builders and architects. And during a time when man was sure of his own supremacy in the universe. Brunelleschi wanted to recreate the dome, actually he wanted to make it better. Thus designing the Duomo to support the dome was more important than designing it to be a traditional cathedral. The dome was too big to use use wood structurally so brick was used. It is the largest brick dome ever constructed. Because of the use of the dome and lack of buttresses, Duomo is a symbol of renewed antiquity in Florence, Italy.

Internally Cologne uses a lot of stained glass windows to tell stories to visitors. Looking at the cathedral externally, because of the flying buttresses, it looks as if there is a cross being carried by people, at the end are two very tall spires ascending heavenward. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. After the spires were built in 1880, it was the tallest building in the world for four years. The placement of the spires at the entrance can hinder an understanding of a transition from evil to good because you are already at the highest point in the cathedral upon entering.
The people absolutely laid symbols on the cathedral. It being the tallest building in the city was a beacon.
I beleve that it is valid to look to the cathedral as a way to read symbols. You would have to have a basic understanding though of what you are looking at.

Florence vs. Salisbury

Looking at the surface materials, my first impression of Duomo is a sense of lightness and simplicity. It is obvious at first glance of the geometric shapes used in the design. it fits in with the surrounding architecture. It is more low profile than other gothic cathedrals. It also has a lighter palette when compared to Salisbury Cathedral.
Salisbury conveys more the seriousness of religion.The interior is more somber and darker because of the use of darker colors and materials.
Salisbury speaks a more colorful language. It has much more stained glass and painted interior to tell a story. Also the courtyard adds another level to the structure.
Salisbury seems to hide something. The history behind it being built to replace the older cathedral that burned down could have a lot to do with that. Just knowing that some of the old bricks are in the structure makes me feel like they are hiding a story among the newer bricks. When looking at Duomo, as lovely as it, it doesn't seem to hide anything. It speaks a language that is understandable because of the geometry and simple design. The interior colors are so much lighter, giving a sense of lightness as you walk through.
The scalar quality of both cathedrals is a beacon in the city of power. Anyone visiting would feel a sense of awe and power and that they are in someplace special as compared to the surroundings.

Florence vs. Amiens

The architecture of the Gothic cathedral speaks its own language. It clearly shows the building process and the pains it took to reach heavenly and horizontally. The structure is not hidden it is clearly exposed and made part of the ornament.
Amien Cathedral is a shining example of a Gothic cathedral. It is the life blood of Amiens, France. As one approaches there can be seen "flickering fragmented glimpses" of flying buttresses, the central cross and spire. The cathedral, with it's many flying buttresses, stained glass windows and colonnades is "a new reality in repetition". Duomo's structure is hidden. The structure that has made the dome possible is hidden between an inner and an outer dome built of brick. It shows the designers appreciation for antiquity and a return to classicism. For the role that a cathedral plays in a city, Amiens fills the role better as a central and overpowering point of interest.


Question 2

In midevel castles and buildings the kitchen area was seperate from the actual living space. The lady churning butter is most likely in a seperate structure located in a bailey.
http://www.buildmodelcastles.com/html/motte_bailey.html
http://www.replica3d.com/HTMLPages/Medieval/Camelot.html


She could be in a castle in which case it would be away from the great hall where all meals are served. There would be an adjoining hall of wood and stone to keep food warm while being transported from the kitchen to the hall.

Assignment 3: seeing exploring relationships

For this assignment we had to document our building using the relationships of :

>building to site
>structure to enclosure
>unit to whole
>natural light to form/space
>circulation to use
>material to form

I switched buildings from Zagreb airport to Maxxi by Zaha Hadid. This will definitely be my permanent structure. Knowing that I will have to document this building for the entire semester, this is a much better choice. The airport is very unique and I wanted to explore it, however from the research I did for assignment one and two, Zagreb posed difficulties that slowed my work down, and limited my creative talent in documenting it. Maxxi is historically rich and on a level for me to understand and research better.

Assignment 2: Diagramming

In this assignment we had to diagram a building and discover its essence. I chose an airport by Zaha Hadid in Zagreb, Croatia.

Portfolio

Our first assignment for Visual Communication was to create a portfolio of our past work. I creating mine using all the work I did during my first year in IAR. I split everything between studio and visual communication.

Reading Comprehension 2

1) Looking at Greek architecture and then reading Hersey, one could see the similarities and comparisons made between temples and sacrificial ceremonies. However based on what I know of Greek culture, this seems highly unlikely. Greek architecture is based on the golden mean and their believe that “man is the measure of all things”. (Protogaros) To be aesthetically pleasing there has to be proportion, harmony and balance. They built based on a mathematical relationship of all parts. They had a belief in logic and reason being beautiful. On the other hand they saw war as a sort of sacrifice and believing themselves to be militarily and religiously superior, using significant symbols from a sacrifice for a place of worship could be conceivable. But it could also be that Hersey is seeing what he wants to see in the forms and shapes that make up a temple. It makes me think of the optical illusion where you either see two faces or a goblet. The sacrificial elements do go along with symbolism used o friezes.

2) When browsing the web, it is always a good idea to know where the information is coming from and to never jump to conclusions, based on one opinion. The more opinions and research you can find, the more accurate of an answer you can come up with. You should always look at the source the information is coming from. If they have citations backing up their own conclusions, it is always a good thing. Websites provided through campus sources are always

a good starting point, because the information is from a scholarly background with plenty of research. If there are photos, it is always a good idea to find the source.

3) Queen Hatshepsut was the only female ruler of Egypt. The main element in the design of her burial temple is lines. While the pyramids of Giza are vertical and prominent, her temple is horizontal and hidden in the valley of a mountain. I think it is hidden

as was customary for women to lay low or remain unexposed maybe as a precautionary or subordinate gesture, but seeing as how she was the queen, I think the former precautionary action more accurate. Her temple is also more open and inviting. There is also a long axial path, which could be related to the life cycle, one must take before they can get to the front opening. Her temple is also of the earth; women are thought of or seen as life giving mothers. Her te

mple is open, like the borders she opened to unite all of Egypt.

http://www.maxim-tours.com/egypt_sightseeing_tours.php

4) The main difference between Ancient Greek and Egyptian architecture is how the structures are used and the site layout. Egyptian architecture is used more for burial and for worship by royalty. Whereas in Greece, like in the Acropolis, all can come to festivals and to hear important people give speeches. Greek society was based more on the people and every

day life. Egyptian society is based more on one ruler and eternal life. In Egypt the main task of a pharaoh was to build his temple. He wanted to be seen as God like and immortal. The burial chamber started out as a pyramid; tall solid and piercing. When Hatshepsut came to power, she was more focused on the people and she brought Egypt together as one nation. Her

burial chamber was more open and axial with column like structures. Just like her open tomb, Greek temples are also open.

5) Egyptian furniture is built for use by people. The pyramids are built to be eternal. The furniture used in the pyramid is light weight and slender compared to the bulk of pyramids. Since the furniture is used in the afterlife by humans it does not need to be as sturdy. The furniture is small enough to be carried into the pyramids and light enough to carry it into the winding corridors leading to the burial chamber.

6)Based on the graphics depicted on these two urns, women are subservient and cater to men in Ancient Greek society. In the vase on the left, I can't tell if the woman is receiving something from the man or giving it to him (a sword). If she is giving it to him, she could be preparing him for battle, sort of seeing him off and arming him. And again on the vase on the right, there are two women sort of taking care of him. Actually it appears as if the man has just returned from battle the woman is taking his shield and sword. And in the second vase she has brought him a cornucopia of food and a little something else hm hm... hence she is undressed and he is now being catered to and looked after by two women servants. The woman in front seems to be filling his cornucopia with food and the woman behind seems to be ready to assist him. This could however only be a vase for ceremonial purposes. So using this vase alone to determine a woman's place in Ancient Greek culture could be less valid than using many sources to come to a conclusion.

Theories Point

Architecture is the unavoidable art. It is an art form we inhabit. When considering this art form, there are some things to keep in mind. We learned that practice and theory are both fundamental. We can not do one without the other. In practice, according to Vitruvius, a well built structure must have three things; commodity, firmness and delight.
Vernacular is an important theme that takes into consideration the land where a structure is built. It also takes into account the culture of those who will live near or in the building or home.We can learn a lot by looking at the past. We can gain cross-cultural insights, expression of values, and learn from past successes andfailures. We can also look to the people to learn about social needs, resources, organization and techniques available just to name a few.
Looking back to various early style, most cultures had a vernacular consistent with materials readily available, spiritual believes (symbolism) and what their needs were. Some Europeans used bones and leather, South Americans used clay and Eskimos used ice and snow. Some design motifs had spiritual connections.

An architecture of happiness is a mix between function (necessity), strength, and vernacular. By combining technique, materials, culture and a respect for environment, living in harmony with surroundings (natural and cultural) can be achieved. To me when I walk into a building or home, if i can move around it easily and it has good human scale it flows. On the other hand if I'm awed by it's beauty in the first ten seconds and there is no substance it's a huge disappointment. I remember seeing doors in a church that didn't work, and it was like huh? I was thrown off and left wondering what else didn't work. Just as de Bottom talks about, things eventually fall apart. If they are well made and materials are sustainable and easy to find locally, it cuts down on cost and I think anyone would feel good about protecting the environment locally. In the face of global warming and peak oil, we can learn a lot from our prehistoric ancestors by choosing readily available materials, and less harmful manufacturing and building practices. That brings me to the subject of space. I was driving down the street one day and I became aware of all the SUV's on the road. The first thing to catch my attention was an SUV with 'urban' in the name. A vehicle built for off road was marketed for the smooth pavement of cities. Even though SUV's are not architecture, it was a good example of our want for so much extra space.
With all that said architecture is an art form. It can be considered living art. Aside from making architecture for the environment, it has to be made for the people using as well. Ornament is conducive to making us feel at home or comfortable in our work and school environments. Roth talks about the use of ornament, color and lighting. The right lighting, and color can set the mood in a home or business. Ornament allows us to personalize our homes and brand our businesses.

-1- The Paris Opera House is a great example of architecture that fits the Vitruvius model for architecture. It fits the definition of commodity, firmness and delight. Charles Garnier realized the function was for more than just performances. It is also a place where people gather to socialize and be seen. His use of building materials give it firmness. His use of ornament and light make it a delightful atmosphere.
-2- The middle image shows an asymmetric design featuring chrysanthemums. Eastern influence can be scene in this of this flower and the use of nature. the wisps are reminiscent of air or waves. The blue green background is the color of ocean waves.

-3- The irony of our classroom is that we have been given all this space, but our desks are small and crammed together. And our instructor has to walk across a wider space. As Americans we like a lot of space or we need more space between us and someone we don't know that well. Our natural tendency would most likely be to spread out in our large classroom space. However I think we are more of a group utilizing space closer to the front. More people pay attention and participate.

-4- Based on de Bottons writing, and my own personal opinion, there can be an architecture of happiness. Since beauty fades, architecture should be built well with exceptional materials and more emphasis on structure than on decor. "A thought provoking number of the worlds most intelligent people have disdained any interest in decoration and design, equating contentment with discarnate and invisible matters instead.". I don't think that "ornament is a crime", but it is less important than the security of having a well made versatile space. To me my apple ipod touch is an example of a happy object. I can listen to it while at the gym, riding my bike walking on campus, or plug it into my car. I can surf the web, watch video, play games and check the weather or my email. It is simple and user friendly it comes in a simple black and silver case that show off the materials and I can add a rubber case or stickers if I want to

Mosaic Tile

Here is a mosaic til I've been working on the past week. It's almost finished but I ran out of green tile. I will have to go look for some more.

Well the school year is over...one down three to go. What will I do with myself.. I'll try not to become too lazy. :) I'm still trying to soak in what just happened? As an adult student I feel a sense of urgency in completing my degree, but as Tommy said first semester "Embrace The Process". There were many valuable lessons learned this past year. One being "don't beat yourself up, you're a first year student" (well 2nd year now, wow that put a smile on my face), "you're not going to know everything right away" "learn it right the first time because it will make it so much easier the next time" "samples are your friend" "don't throw anything away" "one mans trash is my treasure" etc. the most important lesson...schooools out for summer!!

Rituals in space-Design Process

The process of designing a space and presenting my ideas.
During this project there were many new steps. I learned the value of rough sketches, how to use sketch-up and the importance of doing all the steps in the right order. I am no longer concerned with getting original sketches ‘perfect’ they are my ideas and conveying them is important, not getting every line perfect. There were initial sketches, color wheel elevations and plans. it is important to do final plan and elevations once I'm completely done with the changes and placement of the space otherwise I found myself using valuable time and wasting money on paper to start redoing them and 2 hours later change them again. The exploration of color is valuable to me because I am beginning to understand different saturation's and values and relationships. Color and layout are my weaknesses. I don't know if I'm limiting myself (imagination) or if I need more knowledge of layouts. I think I can get stronger at color understanding by simply exploring whats out there (paint samples at Lowe's the color wheel) and practicing on drawings and perspectives I do over the summer. I think I will have to ask for help with layouts or decide on document sizes and STICK to them. When I do it again, I will put more time into thinking of how to change the space. My final sketches will focus on showing the space from every angle.
When first measuring the space I will draw it first and all the fixtures etc. then write in measurements, and take pictures. Overall I am happy with the outcome, I don’t think I will rush myself again so I can pay attention to details like why am I putting that shelf there, is it the best space for it. I do wish I would have given more thought to what I wanted to change or how I wanted the space to look in the end.
Sketchup can be a useful tool; it did however make me feel a little claustrophobic zooming around in a tiny space with a tiny viewpoint. Pictures will be very important in the future.
I am very happy with my model, I enjoyed making it, I think it was easier for me to convey ideas with a physical representation of the space. maybe that's my left rain thinking.