Reading Response # 7- Ornementation

Baroque                                                     Rococo

- Elaborated - Embellished - Complex in comparison to earlier architecture - Curving - Corkscrew columns

- Bilaterally symmetrical - Light colors - Delicate - Irregular - Curvilinear ornamentation

Baroque Style heavy wall embellishment 

Baroque Style cealing embellishment
"...they use, almost delirious, angles and broken and distorted lines; they tear apart bases, capitals and columns with crowed stucco decoration and trival ornimentations with faulty proportions, in spite of the fact the Vitruvius condemns such nolvelties (Roth, 397)"

light airy decrative room design

embellished cealing with light colors

It is apparent that the two styles are polar opposites and the rococo style was a revolt against the previous baroque style of dark colors and heavy furniture to a more light and less crowed design style. The Baroque style was one of decoration and meshing up everything of the past and cramming it into one design style. However the rococo style that followed the baroque style was a turn form the ornate detail and made it more clean and simplistic. This turn from the past is still a prominent idea in out culture today how we turn from ideas from the past and try our hardest as architects and designers to steer clear from the old styles and create new ideas of design. There is only one problem with this is the fact that even though we try to turn from the past our designs just reflect them even more.

sources:
goodjesuitbadjesuit.blogspot.com
ahhhsatan.blogspot.com
http://oer.uaf.edu/learn/AMTF200-v1/2009/134/
http://blog.francetv.fr/deco-maison/index.php/2008/02

Theory Reading # 3

In the theory reading it discussed how social patterns are reflected in dining and how people tend to communicate with people based on there relationships between them. People tend to talk more with people they have eye contact with rather than people beside them since they would have to turn there bodies. Also couples normally sit beside each other since dinner parties are normally ways for the couple to interact with people other than the two of them.

I have thought about this reading and how it relates to my dining space and decided to have all the people in attendance face the screen in a half circle table so they will have more communication with the people of other cultures that are participating in the dinner from other places. Also I have decided to have a semi circle so the group does not feel placed in a line where its hard to communicate with people that are sitting at the same table with them. This way all the people in attendance with interact with each other and hopefully experience each others cultures. This celebration of solving world hunger has a huge influence in my space and by not having a lot of extra decorations and unnecessary fluff on the table I am planing on contributing to the money side of things as hoping to influence others cultures by involving them in the dinner and telling them about how I chose to contribute to the cause.

Blog Post 7- Happiness of Architecture

In class this week we have been talking about the diffrences between eastern and western architecture and have been given a list of the rules for each. So on friday our groups took a trip around campus and discussed spaces and places that lead to happiness.

The space i believe has the highest level of happiness on campus is the fountian area behind the EUC. This area shows how both eastern design and western design emphasise surface theough materiality since the space itself id defined by the stone tiles layed on the ground around the fountian.

The area near the faculty building is a place of happiness in the spring and summer because of allt eh flowers in bloom and also because it creates a place where you can sit with friends and have a intament moment.  This area showes how our culture strives for harmony and order in all things since it has a defined sitting area and a designates sitting area enclosed by stacks and layers of bricks to help create this enviroment. this outdoor place also uses a stone walk way to emphasise surface through materiality.

Another place on campus that shows happiness is the fountian area outside the cafiteria where students gather to socialize. this area is composed on many layers and stacks which create diffrent elevations for students to sit and talk. This area shows how architectuse can create a place that people feel safe and happy in.

Reading Response #6

Sources:  http://beautifulmosques.com/?tag=bibi-khanum-mosque
Ching Book

Blog Post #6

In class we have been learning about gothic cathedrals and the two my group were assigned were the Amien and Cologne. which are located in france and gremany

http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/arch/high_gothic.html
http://www.german-architecture.info/GERMANY/GER-008.htm/
http://www.westcler.org/gh/curlessmatt/arthistory/syllabus.htm
http://www.uiowa.edu/~c009113/images/
http://www.historyfish.net/abbeys/abbeypages_eu_cathedrals.html
http://www.formonline.se/kyrkor/Amiens/

Unit Summary #1

Diagram of Stonehenge

 View of Individual Parts

In the beginning of time people modeled things after the world around them and in doing so created the basis for all design principles we have today. These object spaces buildings and places were inspired by the cosmos and things they encountered in everyday life . Stonehenge was built to align perfectly with the constellations, equinox, and solstices. People in early civilizations understood the patterns of light and dark. By this important structure we can start to understand more about their culture. The center of a circle is sacred as they placed an alter at that spot. The circle itself represents equality and unity and there is a social status to consider whether people were inside or outside of the structure itself. However, all parts of Stonehenge rely on one another to create the structure. This shows that the society relied on all parts to create a whole community.

Pyramids of Giza

 Another great structure from the past is the the Pyramids at Giza which have a vertical axis reaching toward the heavens. It is known as the city of the sun. The pyramids also act as a compass arrow on the landscape of Egypt. The pyramids have four sides which face accordingly with north, south, east ,and west. This shows how they value the sun in their society, making it apparent that they rely on the sun as they are a farming society centered on the Nile River. The placement of the pyramids at the center of the culture show the sacred characteristic of the center point itself, just like the structure which was built in Stonehenge. A new element of design is added with the Pyramids at Giza. This would be the idea of stacking. The stacks of the material used for the pyramid, also echoes the layers in the society between the Pharaoh and the common-folk. They believed he was the reincarnate of the sun god Rah, and the base of the structure is symbolic toward the slaves, which made society functioning possibly. These pyramids acted as a vertical element that direct peoples attention to a higher power and creates a sense of power of the Pharaoh.

Parthenon (Doric Temple)

As time moved on building form evolved but still maintained the same elements that was present in those of the past. Circles stacks and groves were represented by columns in Ancient Greece by projecting the circle form upward and also by the stacks of decorative carving on the caps of the columns. The columns also represent groves of trees in their upward orientation which demonstrate the importance of a higher power. The use of upward object shows the importance of a higher power as well as a sense of ritual which goes hand in hand with their environment. The way people in Greece chose to build temples changed and this meant there were several Prototypes which then was modified into Archetypes and in between the two types were hybrids combining the best of both types making a overall style of building all over Greece. These buildings were made up of many repetitive elements which allowed for contrast/emphasis, unity/harmony, and balance/proportion.

Plan View of Typical Buildings

This new way to build things had 3 different styles Dorian Ionian and Aeolian and in all building there was a porch (entering space) a court (receiving space) and a hearth(warm center). However in this new style of building there was the reality and the ideal part of the building the buildings looked like they were perfect and all the columns were the same but the reality was they were slightly curved so the roof wouldn't fall in. This idea of reality vs. ideal transfers into the political system of what was Greece and what would later be the roman Empire.



The Collosseum

 

The Roman empire was one of commodity, firmness, and delight making structures with great purpose in society.  The Roman Society also borrowed ideas about design from earlier cultures like the types of orders from the Greek temples that they meshed and added to the Colosseum removing all the importance to them since they just placed them all together. The Colosseum also was made up of arches which allowed them to build higher and have multiple layers to the structure. The town surrounding the Colosseum was made up of roads that created a grid to divide the space as well as to add balance to the city structure.  The Roman city plan can be understood by looking at Pompeii which has a temple, bath, forum, basilica, amphitheater and a gym.  Throughout history building have been adapted from previous cultures and improvements made as cultures grow and adapt tot he environment and change their rituals but the basics stay the same.

Sources:
http://www.reasonpad.com/2009/09/most-over-rated-travel-places-specially-for-honeymooners/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5098706.stm
http://www.travelbbb.com/tag/giza/
http://www.cs.utah.edu/~bigler/pictures/europe2002/italy/italy.html

http://archisofts.blogspot.com/

http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/mainland.html

Eradication of Hunger

As a result of the United Nations Eradicating Hunger in 2015 my family and friends decided to redesign our dining room since the room we use now is not reflective of the celebration. This celebration allows us to change how we look at other cultures and experience their way of dining while creating bonds with families from other places in the world. This new dining space not only creates a good environment to celebrate this occasion as well as working as a everyday reminder of our success at ending world hunger.

The new design still creates that inclosed area that the dining table usually creates but instead of allowing the chairs to create this feeling the new table and chairs are all clear and the chairs are even low backed instead of high back making the space more opened and inviting for the people we celebrate the occasion with. This occasion called for a important designed table which created a more social space so that people from different nations could experience the celebration just like they were in the room with us. This table is a semicircle and it is place facing toward a social networking device that allow the two different meals be made into one this invention was created in a hexagonal shaped pieces that are able to be place on the walls of any room in any pattern or shape the owner wishes. This set up has been recently mandated by the United Nations so that every home includes the table and social networking device called The Hive which allows different families to communicate without having to travel long distances saving money that originally would have been wasted. The semicircle table is designed so that the family is opened to the device allowing the two different groups to become one completing the circle shape. This table unifies to two groups making the dinner seam intimate The side board is also a important part of the design since the table is transparent and the chairs have low backs the side board serves as the backs of the table normally would inclosing the space and creating that intimate dining atmosphere. The side board also works to block off the rest of the house from the onlookers and in doing so created less of a distraction than if the space was opened and the outside family was allowed to view the whole house. This new environment creates a close knit network of international friendships and bonds that allow the world to learn and grow in their was of viewing others as well as gaining a more social awareness for what happens outside the little bubble we live in from day to day.

Reading Response # 5 - Masada

Sources are the Ching Book pg 167
and all the images are from Google image results for the Masada temple

Blog Post # 5 Design & Poetry

Music and Design are so closely related that one is reflective of the other.  For this assigment we had to create a  poem which had to be a couplet, free verse, haiku, limerick, or quatrain.  For this image i chose to write two diffirent haiku's to show the fealing of the photo. 

Colors on a value layer

i sense it moves in all tones

creating structures in repetition harmony

The motion of this composition

creates unity through its continous color repetition

My eye sences wonderful momentum

 Sculpture of Paper-clad Wire Clothes Hangers

Theory Reading #2

 On Friday we watched the movie Babette's Feast, about a family that lived in Jubland, Denmark and had a french lady by the name of babette live with them. The family had a simple way of life and were very religious which made their dining not a luxurious experience like Babette was use to.  The two sisters later found out that Babette was famous chef from Paris', France "Cafe Anglais" where she cooked exquisite dinners to enhance the dining experience.  It was at then the two sisters decide to hold a dinner to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their fathers birth.  Knowing this dinner was of importance to the family Babette begged the sisters to allow her to cook the dinner, however they were quite hesitant since they had never experienced anything different than their culture.  The sisters culture was one of simple traditions and simple meals where they sang hymns and prayed.  They were afraid by allowing this new culture and way of thinking into their homes they would be allowing sin to enter their way of life.

Babbette preparing the dinner

table scape of the dinner

 

After watching this movie i began to think about how culture influences design in both positive and negative ways. Some positive ways of culture and design are the fact that both influence us in a personal way from the way we feel about experiences to the way we experience them.  Without culture and religion all of our day to day activities would be meaningless and unnecessary since there was no reason for why we were doing them. This also has a negative aspect to it because sometimes like in ,Babette Feast, people get so caught up in their own culture they become afraid of other ways of doing things and tend to live in their safe little world not experiencing anything new.  Therefor we must create a happy medium between design and culture so we do not allow ourselves to live in a sheltered little box hiding from the world around us.

  

Blog Post # 4 - Form, Materials, Axis

"The end is to build well. Well building hath 3 conditions: Firmness, Commodity, and Delight"                                                                 
- Sir Henry Wooton (1568-1639)
The Elements of Architecture 1684

Acording to this quote the Moore Humanity and Reasearch Administration building (MHRA) is a well built building on our campus this building blends the old and new styles of buildings on our campus in order to show the diversity of UNCG.

[Firmness] - performance, stability, structure
The MHRA building has a high performance level in that it is divided into 2 sides one used for classes and research and the other used for administration. This layout shows the structure of the building by creating diffirent wings so the spaces do not overflow. Also in the space the materials divide it between the 2 focuses.  The administration is split from the rest of the building useing collums and frosted glass that allows light to filter thru the walls but not to compleatly seperate the space. This structure also uses many materials that show a sense of strength and long lasting potential in that the designer chose to use metal, stone, wood, and tile. These materials are found all around campus and not only match the existing buildings but compliment the function of the space. 

[Commodity] - useful arangement, positive function , and interrelationship of spaces
The Designer choose to inset stone tiles into the floor to act as ripples in order to direct people in the right direction and to show the sacred spot created by the 3D projection of the circle to the intire entrance which allows light to be projeccted through the space and shows a central way to travel through the building from one entrance to the back entrance to the two diffrent wings of the building.

[Delight] - sence of space, positive effect, delight
The MHRA buildings exterior has a positive effect on the campus by marking the corner of Spring Garden and Forest St. in placing the collum entrance facing this intersection the building and the street corners importance have been elevatec creating a sacred spot agin marked by the 3D prejection of the circle. Also the way the collums placed near the doors change form two collums on the outside to one on the inner portion helps create a porch and transitions us into the interior of the building making that inner space right after the door hold power and importance.

The MHRA Building marks a space of significance and value on the campus and show who we are as a university.

Reading Response # 4

Sources:

Ching book

http://www.lib.unc.edu/rbc/Mayaexhibit/collection.html

Design Manifesto- Theory Reading 1

Design can be anything you want it to be from something you dream up in your head to something you create as a tangible object. It honestly does not matter what the design even is or if it's realistic because in all design there is something you can take from a idea and use it to create something spectacular. It may not be your first idea that works and is perfect but by the time you think about it and rework it you will have a design that inspires you as well as others.  Design is as much about the process and the re-dos than the original idea which means you cant just stop when you get stuck you have to go out and search for more ideas and work those into your design process.  This is what it takes to make a good idea turn into a great design.

You can gain inspiration from anything and everything and use that to add new twist to old things as well as design completely new objects and spaces. Your inspiration can be anything from a stick on the floor of a building to the building itself.  to design great spaces and things you have to think about what you inspiration meant to the person who designed it. You need to be able to create a story about your inspiration then translate those ideas into a working idea that forces others to wonder what you were thinking about when you designed it.

Personally I am inspired by nature and I choose to combine that with more man made elements like combining a tree stump with white Plexiglas glass to create a juxtaposition of the two elements which separately are beautiful but together create a design that is thought provoking and playful. In my designs I try to get people to wonder why I chose the products I did or why the scale is how it is. This wondering forces others to attempt to interpret my work and in doing so they come up with ideas and inspiration for there own work.




Picture source: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Good-Design-MANIFESTO/268013

Color Week

This week in class we learned how to look at color in a diffrent way than how we were normaly do. We learned how to find the middle mix of colors and created compositions with colors we choose from our pack of color aid paper. Which we had to race the class to southern photo to get one of the 4 boxes of paper we needed.



At first we learned how to mix two colors seen in the 3 x 3 square then we worked with mixing three colors with the triangle. When mixing three colors i learned that the closer the colors in tone the harder it is to find the middle mix partly because we had a limited amount of colors to chose from.



The last day of color week we had to have a color pallet and useing that pallet we had to create a composition representing the four seasons with in a abstract way.