BP #7

Last week we read The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton. He talks a lot about how "A thought-provoking number of the world's most intelligent people have disdained any interest in decoration and design, equating contentment with discarnate and invisible matters instead" (de Botton, 11). He also talked about how St. Bernard of Clairvaux was so unfocused on his surroundings that he walked all the way around Lake Geneva without realizing it was there.
For me, a happy place or space is somewhere that has lots of natural light. I'm basically nothing without the sun and it's amazing how much the sunlight can change my mood. That's the biggest thing. I prefer clean lines and simpler styles-crazy rooms just make me feel crazy.

Friday we traveled around campus in groups looking for happy places and spaces. Many areas came to mind, mostly active and outdoor spaces. We walked by the fountain/pond by the EUC, the meditation room, the garden by the fountain, the swingset by the EUC, the tree by the library, down college avenue, and then some. It was a sunny day and many people were out, making it easy to spot a happy place.

For my place I decided to talk about the tree by the library. It's hidden away on the right side of the library and probably overlooked a lot. It's a huge tree with plenty of shade underneath and plenty of places to sit and hang out around it. There's even a bike rack, prompting people to stop and sit for a while. When I think of an outside place on campus many come to mind. For me, if I'm going to hang out outside on a pretty day I'd like to do it where there aren't a ton of people crowding up the place. This shady area around the tree seems like the perfect spot to me and makes me happy.

And, look, it's marked by a sacred circle

For my space I chose the Weatherspoon Art Museum. Right when you walk in you see how much light is let in from the atrium skylight. That alone is enough to make me happy. Last semester I had a class in the main lecture hall and it was dark, dark, dark in there. There were no windows and the lights were always off because my teacher showed powerpoints to go along with her lecture. When I'd walk out of the door to the class and see all the light that the building lets in, it would automatically lift my spirits. I chose to show the chandelier that hangs over the stairs of the building because I think it's got a happy disposition to it. The materials and colors by the lit windows just seem happy to me.

A quote that really stuck out to me was when de Botton said, "We seem divided between an urge to override our senses and numb ourselves to our settings and a contradictory impulse to acknowledge the extent to which our identities are indelibly connected to, and will shift along with, our locations".  While we may want to get caught up in life and focus on other things, it's ingrained in our nature to care about what's around us. We personalize our bedrooms because that makes us happy. We paint our living rooms because that neon green the crazies who used to live here painted it drives us crazy. We adapt our spaces to what brings us delight. "Belief in the significance of architecture is premised on the notion that we are, for better or for worse, different people in different places" (de Botton, 13).  I think that this is part of the concept of an architecture of happiness.

RR # 7

For my reading response this week, I focused on the Shwezigon Pagoda in Pagan. While somewhat reflective of a former Buddhist university, it stands as a prototype for future temples (or pagodas) all over Myanmar and beyond. Its stacking of terraces that tell stories of Buddha and lead to knowledge and wisdom lead you upward to a circular form surrounding a main stupa (or statue). Talk about following the rules, there's harmony between levels as well as circles and stacks, the building reflects an older one, and contributors can up their statuses by donating panels to go inside the temple. It also relies on stacks and they add not only commodity but firmness. The golden outside adds delight. The Shwezigon Pagoda not only looks to the past but also to the future of architecture...a real golden midpoint.


sources:
http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/myanmar/bagan/shwezigon.php
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/burma/bagan-shwezigon-paya-pagoda.htm
http://www.asiaexplorers.com/myanmar/shwezigon_temple.htm
A Global History of Architecture by Francis Ching: pages 315, 396, 397

Personal Space...The Behavioral Basis of Design

In Robert Sommer's Personal Space: The Behavioral Basis of Design, Sommer talks about the theory that "certain arrangements of people are more suited to certain activities than others" (Sommer 61). He decided to investigate the problem from the standpoint of certain attitudes (cooperation, competition, or separate action) and see how people arranged themselves. The most common arrangement was corner to corner or face to face arrangement for casual conversation.

This is important to keep in mind when designing a dining table because, well, that's the point of a dinner. If there aren't opportunities for people to have conversation the dinner isn't going to be very successful. For the table I designed in my space I wanted it to be one where many conversations could be held. Therefore, I made it a large square table. Each person needs, basically, 2 feet of space at a dining table. By making my table 5x5 I allowed for more than one person to sit on every end of the table, leaving no one person at the end. I made my table so that an identical 5x5 table could be attached via metal hook underneath so that it would accommodate more guests for the event as well. When not in use the table can go outside on the screened-in patio.

BP 6: COMPARING AMIENS & COLOGNE

Friday in class we talked in our groups about the compare 4 cathedrals website. We each got a square from the chart found on the website and our group got "composition: regional differences come to bear on design features" connecting amiens cathedral in france and cologne cathedral in germany.

Amiens, France

<---

       Cologne, Germany

--->

Gothic architecture started up in France when Charlemagne showed up around 800 CE (Roth 301). French cathedrals were known for their double towers among other things. They really set the standard for Gothic architecture. Amiens cathedral was the purest version of Gothic architecture and is modeled by the Cologne cathedral. Because Germans didn't really have a distinct Gothic style until as late as the 14th century (according to medieval-spell.com), the Cologne cathedral was modeled closely after the Amiens cathedral. German cathedrals later became known for their single spires and tall, tall towers. For this reason I wouldn't say that the cathedrals really were super clear pictures of regional differences. The Amiens cathedral, yes, is obviously French. The Cologne cathedral, however, is on its way to being distinctly German. Because it's taller and, frankly, scarier than the Amiens cathedral it definitely has its own character and can be considered German but because it's modeled after a French cathedral and has two towers it's not 100% German.

Although the Cologne cathedral was closely modeled after the Amiens cathedral the two have their differences. The Amiens cathedral has a more appealing and happier facade. It's also built more to the ground, showing the friendlier relationship of God and man. The cathedral is surrounded by dense buildings and therefore it's more integrated into the city (probably because it looks happier). The whole building seems to have a more light, airy appeal on the outside and reflects the happier relationship between God and man.



In contrast the Cologne cathedral does not smile upon anyone. It is tall and dark and makes man feel very small compared to God. It's almost a reminder of how little you are in this world compared to God. Maybe it's also a reminder of the looming fate that lies ahead if you don't get inside and do some worshiping? This building is a good example of what my team learned during the "coke can cathedral" exercise. To make our building taller we had to spread out the base a little. Because we did that, our building was able to be much taller. Contrasting the dark and frightful facade, the inside of the cathedral is immensely lit. This is probably due to the amounts of flying buttresses all around the building. They expand out and let in a lot of light into the space.




here is a cognitive map that tells something of the medieval world:

texture explorations

In drawing class we were told to pick a textile, stone, wood, and carpet sample from the studio library and practice drawing it. We had to do a 5-square value scale for each at full scale as well as a 1"=1' scale for each. We also had to use a pencil and a pen for each material. The carpet proved to be pretty hard and time consuming. Because I used bamboo which is pretty linear the wood wasn't too hard. The textile wasn't easy but wasn't difficult. What took the longest was the smaller version of the tile. I had to do a lot of stipling to get the right textured look and that took forever. Overall, I think my composition came out nicely.

RR #6: a truly sacred spot

design manifesto

i believe that design is a process. while for most people, it's somewhat intuitive and comes naturally, that's only part of the process. you also have to consider the objective, the situation, the utilities at hand, etc. you can't just jump in, do a little, and call it quits every time-you have to experiment, make models, re-make those models, and keep editing until you have an end product. becoming a designer isn't easy either. you've got to learn a lot first but having all of this background knowledge in your head is very helpful when approaching a task or situation.
i also believe that good design is contagious. it should make you want to see more. when i see something that is well designed i automatically look for more by the designer. this also shows that good design is exciting and inspiring. we look to fellow designers for inspiration in our own designs. no one design is 100% original. design is also functional, thoughtful, and purposeful. everything that is made has a purpose and much thought should go into the design of a space, object, etc

dining room precedents

To me a dining space should be comfortable and exciting. Colors in the room should echo the excitement of the gathering of people and they should be able to sit comfortably and enjoy their meal and their time together. Here are a few spaces that I found inspiring...


[social space]

palazzo lobby

Having grown up in Las Vegas I know a little bit about "exciting". The crazy colors and patterns (and sounds...hello slot machines everywhere!) provided a nice contrast from the dry brown landscape of the Nevada desert. The pictures are ones that I actually took the last time I was there. The whimsical umbrellas are located above a central, social space and definitely give people something to talk about.



[dining space]

Bringing color and interest to the floors, walls, or chairs makes the room more exciting and lively and that has an effect on the people in it.



[ritual space]

The Church of San Leolino in Panzano, Italy was inspiring to me because although it's got grandeur and an element of seriousness it still has color and life to it without covering the walls in stained glass.

narrative...the story behind the space

In 2015 the UN instated an International Eradicating Hunger Day for all nations. On this day a meal is shared, through the use of social media, with people elsewhere in the world. This event is biannual and coincides with the winter and summer solstice. 

     The event is set up by the UN and families can sign up to share meals via Skype with other families around the world on this day.  My family signs up and has a fundraiser for this event every year. We raise money for fighting world hunger and invite our neighbors over for the meal. This year we've been matched up with a family in Peru. Luckily we're on the same time zone so we'll both have our meal at 4:28. A few weeks before the meal we chat with the family via Skype and get to know each other a little. We then exchange our favorite traditional meals. We'll make theirs and they'll make ours.
The table for the space is 5x5 but another identical one can be connected to make more seating for guests. The chairs are big and comfy a couple of them are small sofas. The main idea of this space is comfort. We'll Skype with the other family on our mirror tv above the fireplace. This way, we share a meal and expand our cultural horizons...all while raising money to eradicate hunger.

UNIT SUMMARY 1

We spent four weeks learning about FOUNDATIONS in Unit 1.

In week one we looked inward and outward at how humans materially encountered the cosmos and constructed inhabitable signs and symbols as objects, spaces, buildings, and places. We visited Stonehenge in England, the most well known sacred circle out there. It’s a perfect circle and its stones align with the equinox and solstice. If you were to move one piece it would structurally weaken the circle, emphasizing its strength and greatness. We talked about how circles stand for many things including sacred spots and equality. We also visited the Pyramid of Giza and learned about how the Egyptians encountered the cosmos. They focused on large, powerful pyramids to show their power and to house their bodies after they died for their transition into the afterlife. Size mattered to them and the bigger the pyramid, the more powerful the ruler. It also meant that the taller the pyramid, the closer to the sun (and their all-important sun god) they were.


In week two we talked about how circles, groves, and stacks were the first basic building elements and principles of design. Circles mark sacred spots, groves reach vertically and show strength, and stacks show stratification and order as well as strength. We took a tour around UNCG’s campus and looked for examples of these in modern day and found many, many examples. We stopped at the circle in the middle of College Ave, which used to be the center of campus-a meeting point between the school of education, the home economics building (an important place at a former all-women’s college back in the day), the dorms, and the library/cafeteria. We also looked at how the columns on the buildings around campus stood tall and supported the buildings structurally. The stacks we found came from bricks on buildings and stairs in front of them. We also talked about types in week two: prototypes, archetypes, and hybrids. We talked about how columns can be looked at as examples of types. While the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns are considered to be archetypes, or prime examples, the Tuscan column that came before them is considered a prototype, or an experiment or early example. Many hybrids, or mixtures of types, came after.


In week three we focused on the buildings atop the Athens Acropolis and how they serve as archetypes for western architecture and design. We also focused on how humans were developing groves and stacks. During the time of the ancient Greeks idealism was key. It was all about taking something and making it LOOK perfect…even if it really wasn’t. The Parthenon is a perfect example. The columns are at an angle with the outer ones a little wider in reality. This is so the eye perceives them as all perfectly straight and the same size. We discussed how the Megaron was a prototype for architecture with its porch, court, and hearth. Humans developed groves and stacks by putting them together to make palaces and temples, just as they did in Greece and Rome. We learned about commodity, firmness, and delight and how the development of arches and domes furthered the development of architecture. Again, we went on a campus tour looking for examples of commodity (function), firmness (stability & structure), and delight (aesthetics) around UNCG’s campus. In the MHRA building, for example, commodity is found in the hallways, classrooms, and the writing and speaking centers located in the building. Firmness can be seen in the metal and stone building materials as well as the columns on the outside of the building. Delight can be found from all of the natural light let in by the front window-walls as well as in the mixture of materials found in the building.

Week four was all about trade routes bringing people and ideas together as well as empires standing strong and diverse buildings abounding in the west. Buddhism was spread to China, Korea, and Japan along the silk trade route. Many fire temples came about in the Sassanian Empire. They were open buildings that incorporated arches into their structures but had pointed roofs. Domes and arches are still seen in much of the architecture today thanks to Rome and its massive empire.

RR #5

BP #5

shapes and colors twirl in rhythmic harmony

values change in layers yet keep unity.

This song came to mind when I first saw this image and thought about the waves of color and their depths and heights.

A LOOK AT DINING CULTURES AND "BABETTE'S FEAST"

Last Friday we watched the 1987 film Babette's Feast. The story is set in Denmark during the 19th century and stars two sisters whose father, the priest of their church, passes away. Years later a French refugee foreigner named Babette shows up at their door and they take her in. She becomes their housekeeper/cook and they teach her how to cook their meals. Babette comes into fortune via lottery ticket sent to her by a friend and she decides that she wants to make a traditional French meal for the memorial dinner to the priest. Cautiously the sisters agree, Babette works her butt off, and it's the most amazing (and memorable) meal anyone's ever had.


The movie got me thinking about how far dining has come. Back then people spent hours cooking and enjoying a meal at home. They all sat around together and talked for hours! Today we hit up the drive thru on our way out or home from somewhere, usually by ourselves, and take a whole 10 minutes tops to devour it. As a college kid, I know. I think we're experts at fast food eating.
It also highlighted the difference between French and Scandinavian eating. The sisters were used to ale-soaked bread and water for their meals. Babette brought in quail, caviar, and wine for them to have. Her wine-filled feast definitely gave the silent, modest church goers something to talk about.

SOCIAL NETWORKING PROJECT

In our studio class we've been talking a lot about social networking. We researched how other countries do it and last week we were told to come up with an "interior product" that would support social networking. My idea was for a mirror that turned into a computer screen (and vice versa).
It could be put in a public place and used specifically for facebook, twitter, etc. It could also be in a person's home and easily hid when not in use. It would be touch screen but keyboards, mouses, etc. could be included.  It would also have motion sensors so that when idle it would switch back to mirror state and when one walks up to it the screen appears.

RR #4

FROM ROME TO TODAY...BP #4

Friday we took a walk (a very rainy one) around the UNCG campus. We looked at the principles and characteristics of Roman architecture that we've been learning about and how they corresponded to the campus today.

We've been learning about COMMODITY, FIRMNESS, AND DELIGHT as well as CIRCLES AND AXES.

commodity...meeting needs

firmness...structure, stability

delight...creating a sense of place and enjoyment

circles...mark sacred spots and endpoints to/along axes

axes...directional forces, tell you where to go/look

The place we visited on campus where I thought these all came together nicely was
inside of the MHRA.

commodity...

The Moore Humanities and Research Administration building holds many classrooms. Here there are classes for English and other languages as well as studies in Classics and Humanities. The Writing Center and the Speaking Center are also located in this building. All of these resources help meet the needs of many students. Students having trouble with either can go to the MHRA to get help.

firmness...

The MHRA is made of tile, stone, metal and glass mainly. The metal frames the windows and the building and the glass is for the windows that let in a ton of natural light on sunny days. Frosted glass also marks entryways to offices, etc. Stone tiles define the hallways and set them apart, telling you where to go. They also provide support for the building. The columns inside are mainly for decoration (they're hollow) and don't provide a lot of structure or stability however there are pairs of real columns outside the building providing plenty of stability for the building.

delight...

The MHRA gets a lot of natural light because of all the glass around it. That, alone, is a delightful and aesthetically pleasing but there is also a great mix of materials that's also pretty cool to look at. The MHRA brings together stone, tile, metal, glass, and some wood in an interesting and more modern building.

the stone on the left, tile in the middle, and wood on the right in addition to the natural light let in all add visual interest to the space.

circles...

In the lobby of the MHRA by the front entrance there is a dome-like ceiling. This circle is echoed on the floor. Stone insets on the floor reverberate out from the center point of the circle...helping mark the "sacred" or important entrance spot.

axes...

Hallways in the MHRA tell you where to go. They're set apart by the stone and the ripples on the floor lead you to them.