a writer's retreat

For our final project we renovated St. Mary's House, a chapel on College Hill, and made it into a place for a visiting writer to live/write/give public readings. The space had to incorporate things like a place to eat, sleep, bathe, park a car, hold public readings, meet with students, etc. These are my drawings and my ideas for the space.

parti

longitudinal and transverse sections

key plan and floor plans

EXPLORATIONS...moving forward and making statements [US#3]

 As we continued to learn about design and its history, we came to a point of many, many design conversations. Thus continuing the thought of WHICH WAY IS BEST, we learned about everything up until modern-day.

This unit began with the introduction of the World's Fairs. Talk about "which way is best", everybody had something to say! World's Fairs were commemorative, commercial, collaborative, and celebratory and everybody had one. Some celebrated world events, others showed off technological advancements. Each fair was based on national pride and showed that their country had the latest big idea/advancement. While most of the fairs and their buildings were temporary a few left us with major landmarks such as the Crystal Palace (until it burned down) from the very first World's Fair in London, the Eiffel Tower from the Exposition Universelle in Paris, the Space Needle from the 1962 World's Fair and many more. These fairs were just like what happened along trade routes and during the major time of exploration way back in the day: people traveled from all over, learned new things, and took them home and either kept them the same or put their own spin on it and made it better.

While this was going on, the Arts and Crafts movement was also happening and a major question was being asked: hand craft or machine? For the Arts and Crafts folks, it was definitely NOT machine. William Morris wanted to revive the medieval world and doing things by hand. "...that Gothic architecture was good because it was handmade by workmen who took joy in their work..." (Roth 493) He worked on his own house, now known as the Red House, with Philip Webb. They kept everything simple and hand-made...all the way down to the wallpaper and rugs. Though the things of the Arts and Crafts movement were simple, they weren't able to be reproduced cheaply enough to reach the masses and the movement ended for the most part.

While THIS was going on, more movements were happening. Everybody had something to say and everybody's way was best. Some looked to the past for inspiration which led to Renaissance, Chateau, Beaux-Arts, and Classical "city beautiful" Revivals. Also looking to the not so distant past was the Aesthetic Movement. It was inspired by William Morris's hand-made designs as well as Japanese art. It was "art for art's sake" and focused on the nature-inspired, fashionable side of things.

Looking ahead, the Art Nouveau movement came about in Europe. With a nod to Rococo architecture Victor Horta designed buildings in this new style with a rejection of historical styles and a usage of ornamental motifs in metal and glass with nature in mind. The curvilinear forms, heavy detail, and mixed materials proved too expensive to mass produce and the Art Nouveau ended much like the Arts and Crafts did.

With the rise of industrialism and all of the new technological advancement modernism was on the rise. Cast iron, glass, and steel were being used to make buildings. Skyscrapers were also showing up and a "stepped in" approach was taken, making them able to be taller and taller. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was also working on making buildings modern. He had a very clean-lined approach and paid just as much attention to the exterior as he did to the interior.

Expressionism and Cubism were also new forms of design that took new looks at the way things were shaped and formed. Many also took attempts at modernism like le Corbusier who pushed the limits of concrete. He believed in self-contained cities that would later turn into apartment complexes. Wagner created "building tattoos" that replaced classic ornamentation and decoration.

While all of these conversations were going on and everyone was declaring which way they thought was best, there was much criticism going around as well. This criticism led to the simplistic, functional, affordable design of the Scandinavians. With designers like Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen, they moved forward with modernism into a serious movement that's still seen today.

A clear declaration of WHICH WAY IS BEST has never, and probably will be made. As Patrick has stated in class, ever since the Renaissance we've been trying to figure things out and it's apparent today. As you look through neighborhoods you see bungalow, Victorian, and maybe a couple modern houses. These mixes are from different people and their different opinions. With so many different conversations going on today one can only really choose to accept and possibly celebrate them. Diversity is the spice of life, right?

BP #14

WHAT INSPIRES ME?

that's a difficult question to answer, honestly. i feel like i'm just starting out as a design student and have so much more to learn! i'll do my best to describe an object, space, building, and place that inspire me.


object: bookshelves
i love looking at books on bookshelves. is that weird? stacked books, old books, big books, little books...i think its the clean lines with the worn covers (on old books) that inspire me. i can't say it's the books themselves that would be the inspiration although maybe they should be-if i can ever find time to sit down and read one! just think about all the places a book can take you...

space:the bellagio fountains.
i'm not sure if it's a SPACE or not but i can say that the fountains at the bellagio casino in las vegas definitely inspire me. having grown up in the city (and no, i didn't live in a hotel) it's a place that stuck out in my memory and has always been something i think is inspiring. the different shapes and forms and patterns the water makes is something to be seen for sure.

building: the gladstone hotel in toronto, canada.
my dream is to be able to stay in this hotel! it was remodeled recently and each room was done by a different designer. each room has a different look, feel, and inspiration and each room looks incredible. it's definitely a building that i can look to for inspiration.

place: the open highway.
i'm not sure if that's too general but whenever i need to get out and THINK i just drive. it doesn't matter where-i just go. usually the thoughts come, but they don't always. either way, i got myself up and went somewhere!

RR #13

BP #13

what comes to mind when you think of scandinavian design? for me, i think of mass production, affordability, simplicity, clean-lines, and functionality.

after world war 2 designers everywhere answered the call for modernity and innovation with their own unique voices. the scandinavians used light wood with exposed finishes and smooth design. alvar aalto, one of the main figures in scandinavian design, worked with bent plywood and glue which can be seen in his famous paimio chair. verner panton and arne jacobsen explored new materials like plastics and fiberglass in their designs. panton made an effective stacking chair while jacobsen made his famous ant chair.

scandinavian designs have been mass-produced and made affordable to the public today. at stores like ikea and target one can find scandinavian inspired pieces bringing european design to homes everywhere.

TWO VIEWS OF DESIGN group talk

In class today we discussed different views of design. We talked about the Eames' and their design background of learning and holistic design and we talked about modern-day HGTV shows like Design on a Dime (which i HATE) and Design Star. The designers on these shows sometimes come from a degree-earned background and sometimes are self-taught. We talked about the differences in these and which way is (if at all) better. Here are the questions we discussed in groups:

1. what role does education play in interior design?
I think that education definitely opens one up to different avenues and ways of thinking. Those who don't have a design education can always be taught from experience but a degree and education definitely helps get you a job as well.
2. how important are credentials and experience for the design field?
Personally, I say the more credentials/experience the more job opportunities. You've got to start somewhere and can work your way up from there.
3. what do you think about taking a holistic approach to design?
I think that's the best way to go about design. What's the point of replacing a couch if it doesn't have anything to do with the rest of the room and how it feels/functions?
4. what experiences and life skills does a designer bring to the profession + what does the design star think?
A designer brings what he's taught and what he's experienced to the profession. If they're from an educational background, they've got different insights and ways of thinking as well as basic knowledge of things. The design star is a huge mesh of different people with different experience. Some have degrees and want to have their own show, others are people who worked their way up with no education. To my knowledge, no contestant has known NOTHING about design or had NO experience. If so, that's a different story and tells people that just anyone can design which, to an extent, is simply untrue. HGTV is just that...TV. It's not going to show the whole drawn-out process all the time which is unfortunate because it's important for viewers to know.
5. what is the role of the media in interior design?
The media says about interior design "anyone can do it". This may be true for those little around-the-house touch ups that any homeowner could and should do. Interior design involves thinking outside the box and serious problem-solving. It's not a job for every average Joe.

RR #12

sources:
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Museums-Paris/Beaubourg.shtml

BP #12

good design for all...



Nobody likes to get wet when it rains.

Umbrellas have been around since ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and even the Middle East. In old paintings and sculptures umrellas are seen over royalty and as fashion items. In Rome, women would sport their umbrellas (or parasols as many called them back then) in the colors of their favorite chariot team.

Eventually, umbrellas were made waterproof for staying dry in the rain. Today, there are many innovative designs for umbrellas.

this is what chair cards have done to me

i was babysitting friday night and we were watching toy story 2 and i've gotta say, when i saw that there was a CHERNER CHAIR in al's office i got really excited! i'm not sure the 2 year old understood the importance but that's okay (;

REVERBERATIONS...echoing what came before [US#2]

 WHICH WAY IS BEST? writing and breaking and re-writing the rules as the world develops and the search for the best goes on.




SURFACE & WORSHIP:
 week 5: As many empires spread out across the land due to climate, access to water, and most importantly TRADE, ideas and cultures were also being spread. All of this sharing led to a rise in religion [mainly Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism]. RULES WERE BROKEN: earlier Pantheon-like churches in the west transformed to basilicas and soon after the dome was brought inside and pendentives were introduced. Gothic churches began to come into play and their high, vaulted ceilings allowed light and music to dance around and reverberate off the walls. These churches had claristories that let light pour in as well as colorful stained glass windows that were not only beautiful but also told stories. This "light dancing" was seen in other churches through mosaics inside and out throughout the east.

San Marco Basilica in Venice incorporated light and mosaics to make the place DANCE.

 RAISING BUILDINGS, LOOKING TO GOD:
week 6: The "dark ages" were finally over and it was time to come outside and figure out the world. Through travel and the method of loci [memorizing locations by using words] many maps began to appear and unfold-usually inside [sacred] circles on paper. Maps also took form in buildings, spaces, objects, and places. The way they looked and the way they were built told about how the world was laid out and what was important during those times. Architecture was also developing as these world ideals developed and the rules were still being broken. This time was all about CATHEDRALS, CATHEDRALS, CATHEDRALS in the west. Pointed arches were introduced and allowed buildings to be much taller and flying buttresses brought in more light. Central spires dominated the building frames. These buildings were all about drawing attention in by setting themselves apart from the city as well as being the tallest thing one could see. The goal was to make these buildings as tall as possible as if reaching toward heaven and making a connection to the earth. They were also meant to bring the eye up to God who is much bigger, reminding everyone of their need for Him and for the church.  These "maps" tell us that it was all about the church. These cathedrals varied slightly in materials and form depending on the region.

St. Sernin in Toulouse, France is a great example of discussions from this week. It serves as its own "map", telling us that hierarchy was important as well as religion. Its height and Gothic spire lead the eyes up to God, reaching toward heaven and reminding everyone of their need for Him and the church.

RULES, RULES, RULES:
week 7: As the Renaissance begins, it becomes a major time for learning, philosophy, and education. The East and the West both had different ideas of what the rules should be, and each had their own rulebook. The West was all about breaking the rules of the Gothic era and looking back to the Classical era for inspiration for the future. It was all about surface structure and placing man first. Romanesque arches were combined with Greek columns and a Renaissance flare was added. Through ornamentation and materials [surface structure] a statement was made of wealth and education. It was all about appearance and making a statement in the West. In the East it was all about maintaining connections with the past. Instead of replacing buildings they'd simply rebuild them and perfect the structure/style. Instead of building up their facades, they celebrated them through shiny surfaces and mosaics. While their rules were similar to those of the West, the difference was in the details.


 In the WEST the Santa Maria del Fiore was a major expression of wealth. The main focus of the city is the church, putting it above the city on the scale of importance. In the EAST, architecture was perfected. In China, dougong brackets were used and perfected, making them resistant to things such as earthquakes, and preserving their buildings for years to come.

A.D.D. DESIGN&PUSHING RULES:
week 8: As rules are written, they're also going to be tested and pushed. This is exactly what happened during the seventeenth century. Facades in the West started to border on outrageous. The fronts of buildings were built up with different layers of facades and different styles were incorporated. Baroque style was introduced at this time. It was a theatrical appearance that often capitalized on "looking impossible". It was all about dematerializing things like stone, making buildings look lighter. While buildings were more Renaissance, looking back to traditional architecture, the curves came in the gardens. Andrea Palladio was doing big things in Italy at this time as well. He democratized architecture by making farm villas in Venice based on things like the Pantheon and other palaces and big places. He also spread them out and gave them control over the landscape-an early idea for suburbs. He wrote his ideas down and, thanks to the printing press, they were published and spread all over the place. Many ideas still seen today originated from him. While design in the West could be described as "A.D.D. Design", things in the East stayed mainly the same; buildings didn't change much but rather were perfected.

The Palace of Versailles was distinctly Baroque and was ALL ABOUT THE KING. He not only had a grand palace and tons of servants [showing his power], but he also dominated the landscape through landscaping and fountains, etc, magnifying his power. Many buildings after emulated this palace and its grandeur.

EXPANDING&EMULATING:
week 9: The eighteenth century was all about exploration. As colonies expanded and spread out, many ideas were spread around, much like when ideas were shared through trade. Francois Mansart developed a four-sided, double-sloped roof that the king was a major fan of. Many buildings to come had this roof. Many buildings around France also emulated Versailles and its palace-like quality as well as its control over the landscape. Buildings were made to ideally last far into the future (kind of like the pyramids of Giza way back when). Industrial revolutions were happening at this time and there was a rise in science and engineering as well as the introduction of the Enlightenment era. People started leaning more toward science and exploration rather than following what the church told them to do. Observatories and other scientific buildings were built to further the scientific exploration. A new concept of architecture as a LANGUAGE was introduced [partially by Roland Barthes]. Buildings began to emulate other buildings yet had their own specific language as well. In addition, an Eastern influence began to show up in the landscaping of the West. During this time, everyone had something to say-their own language, so to speak, and the rules were definitely BROKEN.

The Place des Vosges in France emulated a king-like home. It was made up of a series of units meant to house multiple people [early apartments/suburbs]. There was an open space in front of it, much like many palaces. It gave many people the opportunity to look like the king even though they weren't.

REVIVALS, REVOLUTION, AND GROWTH:
week 10:" When you go into a revolution the world turns upside down." This is exactly right. As Industrial Revolutions were happening and improving technology [and ruining air quality], everyone had something to say. In America it was all about status and being "gentile". Rules were rewritten and, again, Classical styles were looked at. "Pure", Classical-style buildings were built by those such as Thomas Jefferson and they set the standard for the land. Classical ideals are still found today: The state capitol is Greek-like and pure while the Federal government is Roman and democratic. There was [and still is] this mentality of "put a [Greek] white portico on it and it's important". Glass and cast iron [thanks to revolution] were being used everywhere as well. They can span a greater distance than wood or stone could so buildings could be even taller and more massive. Because this time was all about showing off, this was a very good improvement. Different types of buildings began to show up like conservatories and train stations. MEANWHILE there was a Gothic revival. Interiors were Grecian and modern while outsides were Gothic. Another ideal of the time was "looking backward to create something new".  With so many revivals and new ideas going on, the search for WHAT WAY IS BEST continued on...


Many revivals and new ideas were going on during this time of growth and change. While the Virginia State Capitol reflects a Classical revival, the Lyndhurst Castle reflects a more Gothic revival. The Chatsworth Conservatory shows innovation in building using cast iron and glass.

As people learned, explored, invented, and developed, everyone had something to say. Some looked backward and put their own spin on it, while others, thanks to engineering, enlightenment, and revolution, had their own new ideas. The question of WHAT WAY IS BEST still remains unanswered as we see Gothic, Classical, and many other buildings from each of these past ideas still around today.




image sources:
http://confessionsofanartblogger.blogspot.com/2010/10/st-sernin.html
http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/sijpkes/arch374/winter2001/sfarfa/ensayo1.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/17355/Interior-of-San-Marco-Basilica-completed-about-1071-Venice
http://www.chinainfoonline.com/ChineseArchitecture/Dougong_Brackets.htm
http://www.wayfaring.info/2007/04/11/palace-of-versailles/
http://www.essential-architecture.com/PA/PA-034.htm
http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/fa267/Jeffersn.html
http://www.gaitainteriors.com/blog/?tag=interior-design
http://soa.syr.edu/faculty/bcoleman/arc523/lectures/523.crystal.palace.images.html