Karrick's M.Arch Studio 2

Portfolio: Studio Introduction

2007-10-24T15:03:00.001-07:00

Boston Architectural College - Distance Masters of Architecture Studio II.

The M.Arch II studio began as most studios do, with a warm-up exercise. The exercise was designed to focus on specific spatial transitions. We were given a 'site' that had several objects that were not to be moved, and also given several objects that were intended to be placed within the site to create specific spatial transitions. Below is my final solution and the text on the image is the explanation of how I arrived at that solution.

It is important to include this assignment in my introduction because there is a very strong connection from this seemingly abstract assignment, with the solution that I presented as a final project.

When we arrived in Boston we were finally introduced to the site of our final project along with the program for the site. I immediately made the connection of the geometry of the site to the geometry of our first abstract assignment. Our second assignment was to develop a 'parti' or a snapshot of our idea with part or all of the program beginning to be applied to some kind of geometry. Below is my parti sketches, which have further explanation of these connections.

It wasn't a requirement of the process to include any connections or relationships to the original assignment, but I found this not only an interesting challenge, but a spring board into the project. As the program became further developed, and the constraints of the program, and the site were fully applied, some of this connection was lost, but I think you find that there is still a connection. The most obvious of which is the geometry that is labeled the gradual transition in the solution to the first assignment. As you further explore this portfolio blog you will find that my project has several metaphorical references, and at the heart of these references is this gradual transition. Education is a gradual transition, and that leads me perfectly into my concept statement.

Portfolio: Concept Statement

2007-10-24T15:02:00.004-07:00

House the Intensive of a Distance Learning Program

To create a building that represents, promotes, and encourages the associated balances of outward detached observation and inward reflection that should be a part of an architectural education. The form should represent the purpose set forth by the institution of a concurrent education which is supported by two seperate but equal parts, in the workplace, and in the classroom, where the two meet true learning may take place. The building should also serve as a comfortable, safe, and private home to students visiting from all corners of the country and possibly the world.

Outward Detached Observation

An architect must apply the intended experience of a user to a building in a scientific and objective way. It is important in an architectural education that a student learn to objectively observe the way the people interact with the built environment. This part of the concept is represented, an achieved by the large southern exposure with an immense amount of glass. The space is designed to be narrow in an attempt to allow a very large field of view from any location within the studio space. The view from the first floor of the studio space over the residential portion of the site allows view of a great variety of the city of Boston. From the large buildings of downtown to the grasses of the fens, the experience (while somewhat metaphorical) is definitely one of observation.

Inward Reflection

An architect must search within themselves for truly innovative answers to many questions. This requires the opportunity to inhabit spaces that might stretch ones personal boundaries. There are several places on this site that are attempting to provide this space. The green courtyard under the weight of the studio building provides a thought provoking generally protected experience, the space between the hard back edge of the studio building and the freeway is designed to provoke an uncomfortable feeling.

The form should represent the purpose set forth by the institution

The studio building, to a certain extent resembles the form of a bridge. While this particular bridge doesn’t span anything as most bridges do, this ‘metaphorical’ bridge with two legs and a large span across space presents an interesting form to represent the meeting of the classroom and the workplace, the studio space exists over the span of the ‘bridge’ to represent the opportunity that learning cannot take place without both equal legs to ‘hold up’ the process.

The building should also serve as a comfortable, safe, and private home

It is important that a person has time and a place to decompress, which is why the residential component is housed in a ‘nearly’ separate building. Additionally, much of that decompression could happen in the travel, or transitions from one space to another. The typical residential unit houses three students. The units are modeled from the surrounding neighborhood and the precedent set by the historic back bay townhouse vernacular. Each unit has a front door on the street to allow the students to experience the transition of using the street to get from school to home. Each unit also has a rear door on the second floor that directly connects to the studio building without leaving the confines of the building. While this doesn’t create the ideal transition, it takes into consideration security and convenience. Additionally, the layout of the units is part of the ‘green’ consideration in the project. A distance learning program would use the building for a very short percentage of each year, so the units have been designed to be comfortable and usable for other types of residential uses, possible short term or executive rentals, living space for visiting professors/professionals for any of the surrounding schools.

Portfolio: Research and Exploration

2007-10-24T15:02:00.003-07:00

Historic Context Exploration

It was important to me to not only attempt to represent the connection between my work and school in the project, but to also make an attempt to actually connect this school project to some of what I am working on in my work. Currently in the office I am working on a building that has a site that is similar to the school project in the fact that it could be described as a 'missing tooth' in the fabric of a historic pedestrial corridor. It is an urban infill site. I would assume that this site is similar in that it was what was 'leftover' from when the highway was built and historically Boylston was a continuous row of residential and retail buildings. The project in the office is in a historic district with an architectural review board. The review board was very concerned that the building that presented itself on the street was 'historic in nature' meaning scale, materiality, etc. Yet the program required a building that was much larger than was could be provided in a historic context. We presented the argument that if the larger mass of the required program square footage was 'removed' or set back from the street, it's mass would not negatively effect the historic scale of the surrounding neighborhood. Yet, it was important to also have the main mass of the building grounded and accesible to the street. So the final product was two 'historic' scale buildings that flank a courtyard that has access to the mass of the building.

It seems to me that it is easy to imagine that should you actually by within the 'pedestrian' corridor of this street, you might not realize the mass of this building, but obviosly from the view on the right it is a particularly large building compared to its neighbors.

So, this I was attempting to employ a very similar approach. Yet, considering the school site had a corner access, and was triangular in shape I thought it appropriate to have the access to the mass of the building at the corner. The historic part of the building then was pushed up the the street, and the large mass of the building started to disappear from the street as you move away from the corner, and into the 'historic' neighborhood. This is not to say that there was an attempt to hide the mass of the building because in both cases it is very evident. But the attempt to 'reclaim' the 'historic' streetscape could be successful.

This view portrays my argument pretty well... actually it seems to work so well that I will quote the profesor of this class. "The low-rise for me is too contextual (it looks like it was there before you built the tower behind)." Success!!

Portfolio: Site and Roof Plan

2007-10-24T15:02:00.001-07:00

The developement of the site was largely based on a single idea. That the studio building and the residential building would be seperate. From there is seemed simple that the studio building should go along the freeway due to the noise and activity, while the residential building would existing on the street in a 'historic' fashion.
The residential building sits on the street and has the scale and materiality of typical surrounding streetscape. It is important that this building fill in the blank that this site is in the Boylston Street pedestrian corridor. Additionally, the residential building sitting on the street and its relationship to the studio building serves to mask the height and impact on the pedestrian of the studio building, making the experience on the street a few yards north from the corner no different than that of any other street in the area.

The studio building is parallel to the north property line that borders the Mass. Pike, and transit corridor. The north elevation towers more than 100’ above the highway, to provide a protective wall not only for the use of this site, but much of the neighborhood to the south of the site. This elevation of the building is juxtaposed to the southern glass elevation in an attempt to provide a barrier to the noise and pollution of the highway. Yet, there is an opening in the wall that provides a glimpse of what is inside the site to create interest from the freeway. More importantly though the pedestrian view from Mass Ave is a direct shot into the interior courtyard of the building, and the angle in which the opening is cut decreases the impact of the wall on this view. The remainder of the site or the interstitial space between the two buildings became a grassy lawn with little ornementation. I wanted this area to be simply... a back yard. Flexible in use.

My theoretical client has arranged with the neighbor to provide parking on a limited basis to the site, due to the fact that the neighbor is using part of the site to access his lot. Additionally, there won't be much use for parking considering most of the people to come to the building won't have cars. I have provided a drop off zone at the corner for students coming in using the transit system.

Pedestrians have accessible access to the front door of each residential unit and the main entrance to the building and lawn area.

Portfolio: Program

2007-10-24T15:01:00.001-07:00

Program

The client for the project is asking us to provide a facility that houses the intensive part of a distance learning program. It will be located in the vicinity of the Boston Architectural College to allow for easy access to support functions (Library, IT, etc.)

The facility will offer living quarters for 24 students, three class rooms for up to 14 students each and a dining/lounge/exhibit area.

The facility will be open to students 24 hours, scanning, printing and model making is possible on site. Desk work, lectures and critiques will happen in class rooms and the lounge area. The exhibit space shall be open at times to the larger community.

A break room will offer snacks and beverages, breakfast and sandwiches will be catered (other meals will have to take place off site).

It is desired to have a small outdoor space for recreational or contemplative use on the site.

This blog section has a requirement, but I think the requirement is met by the many other documents that have been posted to this blog, SO, Instead of listing the rooms, spaces and square footages that I have applied to a physical building, I am going to take this space to make a few comments on the design process, and how it can affect a client, or a user, to truly investigate a program and how space is used. Often clients ask for one thing, but through the design process (with their beloved architect)… and work… and strife… arrive at something much, much greater. Which answers one of the questions from this cohorts first semester, Why are architects important?

It is important to realize how a program can go through a metamorphosis during the period of time where a client or user (which happened to be ourselves) begins the design process, and where it ends. The design process is a very emotional, provocative, outrageous process. Additionally, the constraints of physics, locale, code, and aesthetics can cause a great deal of stress on a program. But, the design process in itself often brings out changes in how a user will actually use a space. For example, many people in the class during the first round of schematics had programmed a fairly large or extensive exhibit space, (as you will see in my original program) but during the conversation of the following weeks in class with the professor and the users, it became clear that an exhibit space was… under utilized in places where they currently exist, and maybe not so important as originally considered.

As you look at the bubble diagram that I started out with, all of the spaces are included in the proposed building, but the sizes and relationships may have changed. In my particular scheme, after I arrived in Boston and became acquainted with the site, (and re- acquainted with what it was like to participate in an intensive) my overwhelming theme for the project became very clear: which is the separation between the studio space and the living space. This singular idea really developed the largest part of the relationship of space. How can I design a building on a 2/3 of an acre that has a feeling of separation from one use to the other. Individual buildings became an obvious choice in my design. After this, I began to think about an architectural education, and how I could metaphorically represent this in form. I really believe that observation is an important part of being an architect, so raising the height of the studio building was important, along with having a great deal of glass. This particular program is based on bridging what you learn in experiencing the profession, and what you learn in school… so the bridge became a symbolic form. In the end, it was those ideas that really drove the program, not the sizes of spaces, and how many vending machines I had in a particular space. Really.

Week 2 Program

Portfolio: Plan

2007-10-24T15:00:00.001-07:00

THE STUDIO BUILDING

STUDIO FLOORS 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD

STUDIO FLOORS 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH

THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PLAN

The residential building is seperate from the studio building in all but one connection. I believe this helps the students have a place to go to that is physically removed from the studio which can sometimes get very hectic. There are also spaces in the residential building to do some school work. Desks and data connectivity is provided in each space, offering the opportunity to study, do research, read, etc outside of the studio space. Which I beleive is very important.

TYPICAL UNIT PLAN

The typical unit plan is 2 small semi private bedrooms, with a common bath on the top floor, and 1 larger bedroom with a private bath at street level. The living space features a full kitchen and living area on the middle level with access to the common corridor to the studio building. This corridor also serves as an egress path for the units. The layout of this unit is derived from the potential to use this as a rental unit when the program is not in session.

Portfolio: Section

2007-10-24T14:59:00.004-07:00

GENERAL BUILDING SECTION

Portfolio: Elevations

2007-10-24T14:59:00.003-07:00

Portfolio: Model and Perspectives

2007-10-24T14:59:00.001-07:00

Portfolio: Structure

2007-10-24T14:58:00.004-07:00

A special truss is the Vierendeel truss, named after the Belgian engineer Arthur Vierendeel, who developed the design in 1896. The Vierendeel truss is a truss where the members are not triangulated but form rectangular openings, and is a frame with fixed joints that are capable of transferring and resisting bending moments. In this statically indeterminate structure the individual horizontal and vertical members are designed as beams. Diagonal bracing is omitted as the joints are designed to withstand the moments that occur at the ends of the members. Trusses of this type are used in some bridges, and were also used in the frame of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. By eliminating diagonal members, the creation of rectangular openings for windows and doors is simplified, since this truss can reduce or eliminate the need for compensating shear walls.

Portfolio: Code Analysis

2007-10-24T14:58:00.003-07:00

Portfolio: Building Services

2007-10-24T14:58:00.001-07:00

It is my intent to use a combined passive/active radiant heating and cooling system. The floors in both of my buildings are concrete, which is an excellent medium to use radiant heating in the floor. Additionally, water cooled polypropylene mats will be installed in the ceilings. In the studio building is will be cast directly into the bottom surface of the floor assembly to cool the space below. Radiant cooling works best when the cooled surface has a direct ‘line of site’ to what needs to be cooled. (People) In the residential building the mats will be installed in a dropped ceiling system that will be more appropriate for a residential application.

Typical radiant heating systems are supplied by hot water that is heated by either a gas or electric water heater. Considering the lengthy southern exposure (200’+) of my building I plan to use a passive solar water heating concept. On the roof there is a ‘mechanical’ penthouse, which will contain fairly thin storage tanks, that will be heated by the sun. These tanks will supply the radiant heating… I intend to maintain an auxiliary electric or gas fired source at the end of the storage system which will monitor the temperature of the water, and should additional heat be needed the conventional source will kick in. Keep in mind though that the water that is being heated will still need much less energy to get to the required temperature to heat the spaces. Here is a link to a website where a guy built a ‘shed’ specifically to do this. www.builditsolar.com

Below is a description of radiant cooling that I got from the website www.toolbase.org

Radiant cooling systems rely on chilled water pipes to distribute cooling throughout a building rather than a conventional system that uses chilled air and ductwork. Radiant cooling systems rely mainly on the direct cooling of occupants by radiative heat transfer (heat transfer through space like the sun’s warming effect on an object in its direct path) because the pipes, which are commonly run through ceilings, maintain the surface at temperatures of about 65°F. Through radiative heat transfer, people in the room will emit heat that is absorbed by the radiant cooling surface. To manage indoor humidity levels and air quality, a separate ventilation system to supply fresh air is needed. Due to the ease of controlling water flow, independent control of areas of the home is relatively simple.

There are at least three methods of delivering chilled water in radiant cooling systems. The panel system is the most common of these. Aluminum panels that carry tubing can be surface mounted or embedded on floors, walls, or ceilings. Another, the capillary tube system, consists of a mat of small, closely spaced tubes that are embedded in plastic, gypsum, or plaster on walls and ceilings. Or, similar to hydronic heating systems, a concrete core with embedded tubes can provide the conduit and thermal storage capacity for a cooling system. In each of these systems, the water is mixed with glycol and cooled by an air-to-water heat pump, a cooling tower, a ground-source heat pump, or even well water. Because the radiative surface is typically a whole floor or ceiling surface, the water can be as warm as 65ºF and still provide comfort.

Portfolio: Detailing

2007-10-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

www.greengridroofs.com This is a link to the green roof system that I plan to use on the residential buildings roof. The most fantasic part about this product is that it is removable in small sections, which makes maintenance of the roof below much easier and more economical. Additionally, this product was quoted at an installed price that is below even a low end paver and pedistal roof system. We have decided to incorperate this into our condominium project "here in Columbus".

Portfolio: Practice Posts

2007-10-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

Project: The Jackson - 46 unit Mixed Use/Luxury Condominium Development
Phase: Construction
Project Responsibilities: Project Designer, Project Architect, Project Manager, Construction Administrator

Project: Detroit Ave/ErieView - 40+ unit Luxury Condominium Development
Phase: Preliminary Design
Project Responsibilities: Project Designer, Project Architect

I thought it might be interesting to show the different iterations of this project that we have been working on.

Project: Buckingham Commons - 100 unit LEED certified transitional housing facility.
Phase: Preliminary Design/Planning
Project Responsibilities: Project Designer, Project Architect

Project: Ohio State School for Blind/Ohio School for the Deaf combined campus - Residential Housing Component
Phase: Very Preliminary Design/Planning
Project Responsibilities: Project Architect, Design Team Member

Studio Final: Concept Statement

2007-09-29T15:22:00.002-07:00

Studio Final: Research and Exploration

2007-09-29T15:22:00.001-07:00

Studio Final: Site and Roof Plan

2007-09-29T15:21:00.001-07:00

Studio Final: Program

2007-09-29T15:20:00.002-07:00

Studio Final: Plan

2007-09-29T15:20:00.001-07:00

Studio Final: Section

2007-09-29T15:19:00.002-07:00

GENERAL BUILDING SECTION

Studio Final: Elevations

2007-09-29T15:19:00.001-07:00

Studio Final: Model and Perspectives

2007-09-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

Studio Final: Structure

2007-09-29T15:17:00.002-07:00

Studio Final: Code Analysis

2007-09-29T15:17:00.001-07:00

Studio final: Building Services

2007-09-29T15:16:00.002-07:00

Studio final: Detailing

2007-09-29T15:16:00.001-07:00

Entrance

2007-09-25T19:08:00.000-07:00

Verner, what about this for the collision?

Elevation Work

2007-09-25T19:03:00.001-07:00

Revised Perspectives

2007-09-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

I took some of the suggestions, I changed the entry. The 'collision' is not so much a collision as I had originally intended and is much more of a gradual change from the two building types. I think that the entry works better, and when I finish of the plans and the site I think it will work well.

The Boylston rendering shows the new entry, and as suggested I added a little entourage. Well, a couple of trees. Contextually though this is working as I intended. I want it to generally look like it belongs there, while hiding from the street view the ginourmous building above and beyond.

AS well the pike rendering I added a little softness, but to me this is the rear of the fortress, the cliff face, or as I have been calling it The Precipice, and the starkness of it is what satisfies part of my intent. Protection, standing up to the highway.

Studio Final: Model and Perspectives

2007-09-19T19:17:00.001-07:00

Studio Final: Elevations

2007-09-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

Studio Final: Section

2007-09-19T19:15:00.002-07:00

Studio Final: Site and Roof Plan

2007-09-19T19:15:00.001-07:00

Studio Final: Structure

2007-09-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Studio final: Building Services

2007-09-12T18:40:00.000-07:00

Starting Section

2007-09-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

Oh BOY!

Residential Building Revised

2007-09-10T10:12:00.001-07:00

Werner,

Thanks for your comments. They were helpful. Keeping in mind my original intent of making the units 'rentable' to the public, I thought it was somewhat important to have a 'master bedroom' Which would be on the street level in this plan. Which is why it has a different relationship to a bathroom. I agree the other bedroom on the first floor was unfortunate. So I looked at the whole building again, and realized I had too many beds anyway. So I took the front bedroom out of the street level and made it a 'parlor' as we had discussed in boston. I had to add an entire other unit to make up the three beds I was missing, but I don't think it effects my site negativly. It might actually help my 'collision' of the two buildings.

I don't get your comment about communicating with the corridor. It is important to my program that the units be individual, and private. A corridor is just that... it doesn't need to be anything else in my mind. Maybe that is why you wrote never mind at the end of the comment???

Units communicating with the 'backyard'... I haven't really gotten there yet. To do this, one would need a door in the 'master bedroom' to the back yard... I don't know if this is appropriate... considering the separation the I am attempting to portray between public and private... nevermind. I'll out a door in... it will be perfect, because when the public is 'renting' that space... the students won't need separation in the backyard... hmmm.

On the topic of ornamentation... and exterior material... and genuine materials.

There are certain building types and budgets that require 'mickey mouse architecture' This building is a homeless shelter that we did. It doesn't look like a homeless shelter because we employed 'economical alternatives' to genuine materials. The people who house the homeless don't get a lot of money to build homes... if we have to fake and cheat to make a nice looking building... I will do it everytime. The budget on this building just like every homeless shelter was just about enough to get you a concrete block box. I think we did a little better than that... even though we had to cheat. Not all of us get to build museums for billionares in arkansas.

Plans In Progress

2007-09-10T06:11:00.000-07:00

Not much to look at yet, but I wanted to post my progress so far.

Design Dust: Is all useless ornementation bad?

2007-09-10T05:04:00.000-07:00

Rick/Werner, thanks for your comments. I changed the 'economical' EIFS banding that was intended to 'mimic' stone, to true cast stone. Additionally, I changed the exterior wall assembly to include insulation on the exterior of the wall cavity. I guess I was under the impression that we were still just going to use the 2007 IBC. Which I don't believe has the same provisions as the Mass. code for location of insulation, while I do agree that it is a better building practice, for the budgetless.

Additionally, as I mentioned in my comments on the original post. Part of my intent is to average the style of the existing back bay residential style with a modern approach to it. Which I believe allows the use of 'purely ornamental' features on the residential building. Not all (design dust)or ornamentation is bad... even if it serves no other purpose than the aesthetic.

Werner, I'll talk to Chris hopefully Wednesday in regards to the radiant cooling. If anything though... this system will allow me to 'decrease' the use of a conventional chiller which in my case still might remain a necessity.

Radiant Cooling and Heating - 'Green Style'

2007-09-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

greengridroofs.com

2007-09-08T15:59:00.001-07:00

Studio Final: Studio Final Blog Link

2007-09-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

I decided that I would make a seperate blog for the final presentation material. This way I can easily track what I have completed and what I haven't,... along with look at the entire presentation as a whole on nearly one page. I assume that if this link to the new blog is not an acceptable solution, I can easily repost the blog entries from the final blog to this blog. I will continue to use this blog to make general comments regarding my process and my progress. Good luck to all as we begin to make our way down the home stretch.

karrick-studio2final.blogspot.com

Mid-Term Crit Presentation Material - Precipice (Yes) Bridge (Um... Maybe)

2007-08-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

Party - Parti

2007-08-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

Building Vision

2007-08-19T18:21:00.001-07:00

Building Statement:

To create a form that represents, promotes and encourages the associated balance of outward detached observation and inward reflection that should be part of an architectural education. Additionally the form must:

Address the ‘historic’ neighborhood and rhythm of the adjacent mixed use buildings.
Maintain a modern identity.
Provide comfortable connected yet separate living and working spaces.
Provide protection from the adjacent railroad and highway.
Provide landscaped or green interstitial spaces.
Provide and apply responsible design precedents.

Footprint and Building Design Goals

2007-08-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

I went to college in boulder colorado which as a city has quite a bit more involved in its and its citizens impact on the surrounding enviroment etc. I spent quite a bit of time learning about the things that each of us can do to reduce our personal impact on the earth. Recycling, composting, organic local products, public transportation, etc. In Boulder, and in many other areas I'm sure, these things seem more 'convenient goals'. Now living on Columbus Ohio, which has pretty abominable public transportation systems, you must pay to recycle, etc. The easy things to do to reduce my eco footprint have become not as convenient and unfortunatly I have fallen out of the habit of reaching for them as goals. Additionally, it seems as though because the outdoor spaces in the midwest, are not as desirable as maybe other parts of the country there is much less of a desire to 'protect them'??

Goals for the building.

High Importance

Reduce Consumption and Waste...
Use gray water systems, provide motion and time cycled lighting, provide some alternative electrical production, wind, solar, even in the small amounts that may be produced. Every little bit counts. Even provide recycled water systems within the building, if a cruise ship can do it... a building certainly could.

Design with reasonable construction materials...
Many construction materials are or can be recyled. Concrete and steel are easy to get as recycled products, while wood stud is hard. Many finish materials are now convenient to acquire as a recycled material.

Reduce emmissions...
This is kind of included in the other goals, but is important enough to mention on
on its own. When I was a boy scout, we had our moto of 'leave it like you found it' balancing what we take in and what we put out is important.

Low Importance

This might be a more important than low... and I am definetly stealing this issue from Tim S. but... if we are providing living space for 24 people... but keep in mind that this is a distance program... is that space only going to be used for the 8 days during the intensive... 3 times a year?? 24 days out of 364... What a waste...

To make sure that we are providing comfortable spaces... really... people will be living here for 8 days... and you can use history as a precident, people will be getting very little sleep. The living accomodations need to be comfortable, not like the sub-standard hotel that has been provided for this semester. Talk about reducing consumption. 8 days, 24 meals, all eaten out? Not providing any kind of kitchen or anything... talk about consuming processed foods!! Yikes. Is it hypocritical to be teaching us about this... sorry if I am writing this when I am angry... I didn't sleep very well last night. The cooling tower that was on top of my room made me feel like I was sleeping in the back of a semi...

Building location...
I'm assuming that the building will be in Boston... probably in the Back bay... that is good. But access to public transportation is important. It would suck to build it in a corn field in the middle of ohio where people had to fly and rent a car, or drive in from miles and miles.

Speaking of that... how many hours on a plane was one of the eco-footprint questions. Considering most of the class is from ohio... maybe having the intensive in ohio would reduce some global emmissions... just a thought.

See you all soon!!! Bring your own towels, and flip flops for the shower.

Bubble Diagram and Program

2007-08-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

If everyone lived like me, we would need 4.8 planets.

2007-08-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

Isn't why George Bush is trying to explore the moon, and mars. Now I just gotta find 2.8 more planets. Oh Crap!!! WTF.

More to come later...

Object Space Final

2007-08-12T14:51:00.001-07:00

Climate Analysis

2007-08-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

Climatic Conclusion for a Building Site in the Boston Area

The analysis of direct solar gain through sky cover, wind speeds, temperature and relative humidity, are all important factors in the design of building systems. The analysis of the site information for our site in Boston has led us to several conclusions. The heating requirement will be much greater than that of the cooling. Alternative passive systems for cooling can be applied in this area due to low levels of relative humidity. Due to a high percentage of cloud cover during the year, solar heat gain and solar power should not be considered as the primary concerns for design.

Cheating? Or Jumping Ahead...?

2007-08-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

The intent was to satisfy my original understanding of the assignement. To create a singular object with the geometry that was presented, with the addition of only the three lengths of walls. Columns could be used, but sparingly. It seemed much more challenging to achieve the required transitions with only these objects. Considering we only had certain lenghts of walls, my understanding was that lining up (4) 10' walls to create a 40' wall was not an option.

The reasoning behind the addition the change of height in the walls and the 'ceilings' was an attempt to show the overlap of 2 implied masses. And in that attempt the negative spaces and overlapping spaces that are created from these locations serves to acheive the transitions that were required in the assignment. It is easy to line up walls and columns to create space and transitions, but there are many other tools that designers use to portray a transition, whether it is change in elevation, or color, or room height. To attempt to communicate these things was much more interesting to me than to line up columns, or lengths of walls.

Week 1: Object Space

2007-08-08T17:13:00.001-07:00

Back to Boston Again

2007-08-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

Just to let anyone who cares know... Joe and I will be arriving in Boston the afternoon of Thursday Aug 16th. To ya know... see the sites. If anyone has plans to arrive early please let us know... there might be some consuming of adult beverages taking place.