Diagraming Order

After reading Christopher Alexander's Nature of Order the diagram that I was able to draw spoke to each of the main ideas that he discussed in his book.



While collaborating with my group members we realized that each of our books had something in common which was order. My book focused on the order of life at its different degrees in artifacts, buildings, places, and spaces. Audra's book which was Delirious New York focused on the city grid system that kept order in the streets of New York. While Brian's book the Ten books of Architecture focused on the philosophical reasoning and order for materials to be used in different scenarios.





When combining our ideas we felt that each of the three separate roads met at on conveinign point which can make the perfect blend of our ideas. This can be compared to the Roman roads Caros and Decumanus which convien at the hart of the city where every thing comes together.

Tilt, Twist, and Beehive coming together in diagram

For Jenga 3.0 We were to combine our space with two other student's spaces based off of how our concept words were related. My group consisted of the terms twist, beehive and tilt which was my concept word.Our main idea was to join each of our spaces around a center courtyard, in various angles that express the motion of our concept words.

Thecniques that help with presentation

After After reviewing some of the presentations in class I feel that there were several techniques that were successful in some of the projects that could help me to better tell the story of my concept. One idea that I feel could help is diagramming, I feel that this is a very simplistic and effective way to explain both the concept and how one would travel trough the space. Kara and Blakeni had great examples of diagrams in which they both related to their concepts as well as explained how one would maneuver trough the space. I really appreciate how Blakeni included where each of the paths, side trips, and destinations by circling them with bubbles, which was her concept word. She also included the idea of diagramming of her line weights and where they would be in plan. I think this may not have been as necessary, but it was an extra step that helps the viewer better understand the space.

"The Man of a Million Models"

...and this is just the first project

At the start of this semester one of my main goals was to figure out what was my design style and process. I feel that I am getting close to finding out one part of this question which is what is my design process? Over the course of the projects that we have been given in studio I noticed that making sketch models in order to explore and create different ideas within a space has become something of a "knack" for me. It feels like this is one of the best ways for me to work in order to define what I want the space to feel like. While this is not my choice of deliverable for a final review or presentation, it does help me to record some of my ideas and thought process.

2.0 Part to whole

For this second iteration of the project we took one of our spaces that we felt had the most potential and pushed our ideas further by adding another level to the space that was half its size. For me the space that I further developed was the 22x32 space. This was the space that was based off of the word imbalance, which is associated with tilt. Within my second space I originally wanted to include one of the solids from the other 22x22 space that I designed, however this did not speak the same language as the space below it, which included a tilted floor and a tilted glass wall. I was able to connect these two spaces however by continuing elements like the tilted wall that was in the original space, as well as mirroring the tilted angle that was in the floor of the first space in the ceiling of the second. Also a niche for a sleeping area was translated over into the second space just as the one seen in the first space.




In each of my rendered perspectives I wanted to show both materiality and lighting to help tell the story of how one would experience the space. I also wanted to include a small for of context and possible locations of where this space could be, by revealing hints of it through the window spaces. The plans also help to tie in the perspectives because in each there is a key which lets you know where you would be at in the space.

WI 3

Groove
For this project Austin’s main concept word was groove, he kept this concept throughout each of his spaces by exploring different ideas and uses of the term. In his first space he explored the idea of actually grooving objects into the space. At first this exploration of the concept didn’t seem as elaborate as the others, however it does exemplify the idea of grooving with the use of multiple level changes. His next space was a design built off of past precedents of Greek temples. This space took advantage of the two columns and one wall kit, using it to imitate the steryobate like structures seen in Greek architecture. Austin’s last space focused on the grooving or joining of elements together. I think that the kit of parts that he used was appropriate for this space in relation to his concept word, which introduced two solids in the unit. With in each of these solids there appeared to be built in shelves and areas that grooved together to sever several purposes including storage.
Epiphany
Alyssa focused on the concept word of epiphany for each of her units, and used this concept to explore different ways to design each space. In her first unit Alyssa literally explored the idea of light, this can be compared to the idea of a person being enlightened when they reach a moment of epiphany. This was also fitting for this space because of its long narrow frame allowing light to pour in from one façade of the space. In her next unit Alyssa engaged the idea of real vs. surreal with in the unit. While I appreciate Alyssa’s questioning of what defines a wall, I feel like the concept could have been pushed deeper by maybe exploring the moment of epiphany one would have after determining what was real and what was not. Alyssa’s last space explored the idea of unveiling, as a moment of epiphany. I feel that this was one of here most interesting designs as it uses two solids to create a maze like structure, that would guide one through the unit.