This post is a long time overdue, but now that I'm done with the semester, I can finally write a real blog post and share with you all the final work, drawings, and models that I produced over the course of charrette.
First, let me share a podcast that my friend showed to me called "99 Percent Invisible." Anyone interested in design or little tidbits of information about interesting design problems should give it a listen.
My project, as I may or may not have explained, is essentially a large wall, used to block out the train. It's program is a store, a train station, and a large strip of food court style restaurants. Here are the final materials I presented in the review:
Dotted lines are parking zones, to be clear
I created densities of trees based off of the facades on West Main St. Panels of alternating translucent concrete and concrete vary based off of the facades on the southern side. Partitions of transition are created from trees at each of the passageways between the garden and the infrastructural wall.
Site plan: Light Lineweights for a Heavy Wall
Old diagrams about experience and transition
Light within the wall
For whatever reason I can't get my final 1/4 section online, so just know that that nasty looking ground and floating buildings didn't exist in my final. Here is a sectional perspective section, with the altered topography on the left and the wall on the right. Underneath is a joint detail of the welding plate and concrete to attach the steel. You can see (or maybe can't see) rebar #3 (3/8" di, 12" on center) for concrete structure, 1" weld plate with 3/4" bolts
Terrible photoshop of the interior space, rendered in Maxwell
Lonely train side
Garden space
Again not the final section; you can't see the interior space well at all, but if you make the image larger you might be able to see it (it's the shaded space)
Final model, 1/8th scale: Sanded plexi for translucent concrete, wire mesh for trees, grey particle board for concrete, plexi for windows, thick paper base on honeycomb board
Final model, 1/8th scale
Final model, 1/8th scale showing translucent concrete atmosphere
Same, but on the inside
Final model, 1/8th scale, train station entrance
Final model, 32nd scale, terrible detail of an operable window to buy items from the store on West Main street
Final model, 32nd scale
Final model, 32nd scale, grey particle board structure, wood dowel trees, honeycomb base, acrylic sign, acetate windows
Final model, 32nd scale
Final model, 64th scale, cedar wall, museum board base
Final model, 64th scale
Final model, 64th scale
Now for the actual final review. We took 6 hours out of the scheduled 3. The jury consisted of 2 resident faculty members, an architect from Charlottesville, the dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Washington St. Louis, and a principal architect with offices in India and the U.S.
My review was terrible. Unfortunately, they got caught up on my initial decision to build a wall. Rather than talk about my design, they focused on the fact that I dislike the train in Charlottesville. I feebly attempted to explain that my rationale was a direct result of the conditions of the train in Charlottesville; the loud and frequent cargo trains are disruptive and they ruin the fluidity of the overall city. But they did not listen and insisted that my initial opinion on the train was incorrect. As the dean put it, "You're probably just one of those kids who loves cars, always drives a car when he can, and will only even drive cars. You don't respect any other forms of transportation." This is ironic mainly because I hate driving and much prefer taking trains or other modes of transportation. In fact I love trains, but I don't think the one in Charlottesville is so great.
Most of the critics hated my incorrect opinion about the train, saying that when one arrives into the city one should experience a grand and amazing entrance. I guess they didn't understand that when a person emerges from the wall to truly enter the city, he or she is welcomed by a large garden full of life and activity, certainly an inviting atmosphere. Had they actually listened to me or looked at my design they might have gotten this aspect of the project. In fact nobody commented on any of my drawings or any of my models, which is too bad considering the sheer amount of time I spent making them. Luckily the architect from Charlottesville briefly spoke about the fact that the garden is the most important part of my project, and that a clear articulation of that makes for a strong project. Of course he only spoke about that in passing before going back to how great trains are and how come I can't appreciate a good train and why are my opinions so wrong. I'm still a bit bitter. It's anti-climactic to work for an entire semester only to have people say that it's terrible and they could do better in 5 minutes. I guess that's really what architecture is, though. So the final review was not great.
Afterwards I talked to my professor for a semester debrief. She was also upset by the fact that they didn't talk about my design too much. We also talked about how I did that semester. She said one of my biggest problems was turning in the required work. I always though that was a good thing, but apparently turning in the required work means that one took time away from designing something further, and that in the future I should design more and not produce as many deliverables. Who knew? She also said my representation could use some work: models, drawings, etc need to be improved. Additionally, she said I need to make bigger moves in design and not be so concerned with practicality. Lastly, she mentioned that I should do more research and find buildings that are similar to the design I am thinking about, and then try and replicate aspects of that building. Suffice to say she did not think I did too well in studio this semester. This is my main qualm with architecture school: they assign so much work and then are upset when you actually do the work. If they don't want all the work to be done, why assign it? In my opinion it seems better to simply assign one or two tasks that can be focused in on, eventually producing a really wonderful result. As of right now, though, it is quite clear that I don't understand the way that architecture is taught in the United States.
Want to see some final renders of the Childcare Center? Neither do I, but here ya go.
I will most likely be a TA for this class next fall. I have already spoken to the professor about it and he said he'd love to have me so that's pretty swell. Additionally I may be a TA for the Global Sustainability course next semester, but that is tentative.
For those of you who don't know, MVVA, an firm I applied to in October, has accepted me for an externship position this winter. If you're unfamiliar with them, they are a high profile landscape firm, considered to be in the top 3 firms in the US. Want to find out more about where I'll be working? Check out MVVA's stuff and have a look around. They were second in the NYC High Line Competition, if you're familiar with that work. It should be a good experience.
As with my first semester, I've produced a book called Siderodromophobia, chronicling this semester's work. If you're interested in that I'd be happy to send anyone a PDF of it's contents. It's copyrighted by the University of Virginia, so don't get any ideas . . . just kidding.
I'm sure I have more to say about the semester, but I can add more posts later. If you have any specific questions or are curious about something in particular, let me know. Thanks to everyone for sticking with me for two semesters. Two down, five to go.
I plan on doing a Best of 2013 Music post as well, which isn't about architecture, but I'll review some of the year's best music, in my opinion. Feel free to check that out in a bit.
As always, thanks for reading. Stay healthy, be happy, and have a great rest of the year.
Happy holidays, everyone,
Eric
P.S. Comments? Suggestions? Hateful criticism you're dying to share? Please let me know, as I'm trying to improve this blog. I know there have been technical issues with image size display as well as difficulties with the background layout, and I'll see if I can fix this. Want to see more of something in particular? Hate renderings and love scans of my notebook? Hate art and love structural engineering? This can be addressed; your opinion matters to me. Thanks for all the support. Cheers.
No comments:
Post a Comment