Ringer 'Round the Rosie

 (Monday, Sept. 22)
 Today was Field Trip day. James had the class convene at the Larry J. Ringer library here in College Station. Recently, they'd been given some money from the city for a renovation and want to do all they can with the expansion because "who knows when [they'll] get another chance like this again." It was nice to get to experience the place we're going to attempt to redesign and add onto.
     Some of the problems that I initially noticed needed to be fixed were the outlets on the floor. Yes, it would be a good call if the covers worked. They showed us how their roller chairs would end up getting stuck in the little pit that it made in the ground, and I happened to step into one later in the middle of the library and had a near-death experience (or so I thought).
     As for a redesign of the actual space however, the staff area MUST be redone. It.. um.. "works" I suppose, but even if you were to use the same amount of space they have now, it could still be a lot more efficiently designed than it is now.
     They also talked about the different staff desks in the entrance, children's section and middle of the library and how they didn't allow them enough space to "retreat" into while working. Also, carts of books were lined up behind the children's area staff desk since they didn't have any other way of preventing kids (and other people) from coming up behind them.
     The stacks were neatly arranged and the seating along the curved southeastern wall was pretty nicely thought out, but for it to be even better, they would've needed more space. The clerestory windows under the arch and atrium were also conducive to the environment, allowing someone to feel outside with the luxury of air conditioning and a comfy chair inside.

     After visiting the library, we all drove to this little quaint cafe nestled between the historic buildings of downtown Bryan. I have to say, it's now one of my favorite little coffee shops/cafes in town. I had a delicious sandwich (after accidentally stealing my classmate's, sorry!) with pesto chicken and hummus with cucumber on the side (a new and interesting combination for me). As for the drink: SO GOOD. It was called the Happy Bee. Four of my favorite things all mixed together and served like a shake: honey, peanut butter, bananas, and chocolate. (If you haven't noticed yet, I'm a bit of a foodie. It's in my blood.)
Oh, and I got a free book, so that's always good.
     So overall: good day, nice yet cramped library, free books, and good food. It's been great.

BAMclass.

(Friday, Sept. 19)

     Weeeeeeeell today may or may not have been super productive. We started out with throwing out some ideas and talking about our projects in the beginning, but then a case of the Fridays started sneaking up on us and slowly but surely intelligent conversation weaned out while mindless babble started filling up the air. Thank goodness James got all the work for us done so we could further our studies. 

    I also finished structures homework (God help us in that class), got shirts ordered and in for one of my organizations, and life is going pretty great overall, despite the events of last week. (Stolen mode of transporation = not so great.) Anyway, I'm really excited to see the library with our studio on Monday. I've always loved field trips. Especially when you can eat food during/after them! This weekend will be a nice break from life itself and it gives us all a time to kick back and have some fun.. and do some research on our buildings of course. ;)

On a brighter side, Ring Dunk season is here.

Masters No More

(Wed, Sept. 17th)
     In the history of architecture, the definition of what "an architect" actually is has varied drastically. According to Refabricating Architecture, such people existed that were thought to be "Master Builders." This description assumed that the Master Builder was the architect, builder, product engineer, and the materials scientist all wrapped up into one convenient person. The Master Builder designed his building from the inside-out and knew the techniques to create the design he was attempting to achieve. Fillipo Brunelleschi is probably one of the more well-known master builders. The idea for the structure and engineering for his dome on the Santa Maria del Fiore, now world-renowned and featured in many action blockbuster movies (you know the ones I'm talking about), was devised solely by him and his brilliant mind. Being the materials scientist, he designed new ingenious ways to build the dome, including screw jacks, and also used iron in his search for something to counteract the lateral forces of the duomo.
     The fact that one person is able to do all that is mind-blowing in today's world. Maybe this is because the buildings today, unlike Brunelleschi's dome, has so much more to it than it's exterior (and sometime's interior) shell. Today we have technology coursing like thick veins through the walls of our homes and every building we step into today. Air conditioning ducts, electricity wires, sprinkler systems, and so many more have so many specifications now, they all need separate specialists for each system. To put that all on the architect's shoulder's today would be impossible for anyone.
     The same goes for material scientists. Architects of Brunelleschi's time simply had masonry, iron, and wood to work with while builders today have different varieties of masonry, steel, iron, wood, concrete, and more advanced materials such as polyurethanes and carbon fibers.

     There is simply too much information for one person to be in charge of now.

This is why the whole idea of a "Master Builder" has ceased to exist. The responsibilities are now divvied up into multiple, completely separate jobs to account for all the information that must go into a building to make it safe for the public.
     Sadly, there are now buildings being built that are less efficient than when Master Builders ruled. This underdevelopment in efficiency springs from the lack of communication between all parts of the building processes, such as the engineers and architects. (A daily struggle supposedly.)
    Thankfully, people are starting to realize this and in turn are making firms so both architects, engineers, material scientists, and builders can work alongside each other and remedy all the flaws to make a more efficient building.

So will the Master Builder turn into a Master Building Team? We'll see soon enough.

Back to the Stacks

(Monday, Sept. 15)

My 305 class's second project is now to design a library addition project. Today, my partner chose two buildings to do a case-study on for the week. (Thank you.)

The first was the Central Public Library of Vancouver:
Built in 1969.

Source: http://social.eli.ubc.ca/2011/07/06/1873/

The second newer buliding also references some famous historical architecture as well, just in a different way, allowing the two styles to "connect" in a way that intrigues me.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina:
Built in 2002.
Fun fact: This library is supposedly built in the same area as the old Library of Alexandria was, known as one of the greatest libraries there ever was, before it burned down.

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Bibliotheca_Alexandrina_--_Library_outer_view_-_1.jpg

They both have circular floor plans and both refer to the past in one way or another while the books they hold define the outer design. 

CO Update:

Saw a waterfall on one of the many hikes we took.

Also, meet Chip. He's my new little tubby friend.

He loves me.

Thought I had food. Poor guy was sadly mistaken.

Alive and well.

(Friday, Sept. 12)

Sadly I wasn't there to help finish sanding and stain the final product, but Sergio did an amazing job of finishing Manny. We decided early on to use a stain instead of paint on the body to show the wood's natural grain and whorls it had in it. (It was too pretty not to.) Overall, I think it turned out pretty nicely and was extra secure with the added back joint addition and thinner, more snugly-fit slots.

Introducing: Manny the Mammoth.

In other Colorado news: the bride and groom invited us to go on a 5 hour hike today to this amazing place. (He proposed here, hence the family hike.) We were not disappointed.

Lake at the top of hike in Beaver Creek, CO.

IT'S ALIVE!

(Wednesday, Sept. 10)

MANNY the mammoth IS ALIVE! We were able to slice him into life out of a 4x8 slab of 3/4" plywood with the use of the CNC router yesterday. We didn't originally take into account exactly HOW we were going to get him back to the studio, so we all piled up in David's compact car with me in the backseat chilling with (sitting on top of) the assortment of animal cut outs.
     Since I'm planning on attending a wedding in Colorado (and leaving tonight sadly), I decided to attempt to help a little bit more and assemble Manny in the studio. By the time I decided this, however, both the ranch and woodshop were closed, so I was left to roughly sand the pieces by hand. Let's just say there was a reason electric sanders were invented. 

Manny, with the new extra joint on back hip.

Mammoth-back

(Originally intended for Monday, Sept. 8)

Sergio and I finally got to the Ranch to do the "safety walkthrough" so we could use the CNC router. I'd heard about the Ranch, but until now, I didn't realize how useful it could actually be for all types of larger projects. The experience was eye opening. 
     Can't wait to use the router to cut out our mammoth (hopefully tomorrow!) and see if our original plans work! Fingers are crossed.

Baby going for a ride on Mama's back. (No mammoths harmed in the making. Almost, but they're fine.)

The Face Off

Today our first medium sized model of our little dinosaur was due. We eventually had to decide on which prehistoric animal we wanted to enlarge for our project. While the Spinosaurus has more of a "wow" factor (and was actually one of my favorites as a kid), we decided to go with the mammoth in the end because of the structural stability. If we had gone with the Spinosaurus, there would've been far too many unknown variables, such as knowing if the head was too heavy or if the two-piece spine would work, to work with in the future.
     Manny turned out to be pretty decently structurally sound for his new larger build, despite his hips being able to move around.. a lot. We have decided to either design the attaching parts differently or to design a small part to attach to the back hips to stabilize the larger version.
     On a side note, we also need to make the slots smaller than the actual size of the wood to make sure they will fit snugly. The medium sized model was more wobbly than we originally thought it would be, hence the future change. (You can always sand down, but it's a bit harder to build it back up!)

Anyways, here's Manny. (Ice Age may or may not have been a slight source of inspiration.)

Whoops.

Just realized I've been posting on my personal blog instead of this one... Sorry bout all the new updates yall will probably get..  :/

Wth is architecture.

(SOURCE: http://daniel-libeskind.com/projects/royal-ontario-museum/images)

What the heck IS architecture?

Today, we were told to read something out of one of our assigned (but "free," thank goodness!) textbooks by our professor. We then discussed how many different industries, such as the automobile industry and the process of plane-making, have been modernized since they originated. Their methods have been streamlined and have become more economical by reducing the number of parts and/or labor force. Architecture, on the other hand, has seemed to go in the almost opposite direction unfortunately. While we now have the machinery, materials, and manpower to do the job quicker, the design processes seem to get longer, and the projects, more complicated. 

     If this trend continues the way it is now, soon Architecture may well be a thing of the past.

Or will it? What do we even consider architecture? There are new houses and buildings being built everyday without the use of an architect.  Now what the heck do we call that? Is that new building or house simply "not architecture", or is it still considered architecture since it stemmed from the mind of a person who, while not professionally trained, designed the building?

     Architecture shouldn't just be saved for the use of professionals. Any one person has the ability to design and create something of their own imagination and attempt to fabricate it. It should not be a standard that we have to live up to nor conform to. Architecture is the free-flowing ideas and plans that are so-crazy-they-just-might-work hammered and buffed out into a real life plan or design. It should capture your eyes as well as your mind when you look upon a great design that someone, somewhere, created.

That's what architecture is to me.

     It also depends on the "eye of the beholder." For some people, the first image may be a wonderful building with the daring slopes and well-thought out plans, while this last photo may be seen as a hoax if someone were to DARE call it "architecture." However, for whoever received this little hut-on-wheels as their new home, probably wanted to shout it out from the rooftops and now love that little mobile closet like they haven't anything else in a while. Who knows if that's true, but that's what architecture is to me. It has an innumerable number of variables while changing its appearance and meaning everyday. Architecture is an art with so many other things mixed in.

                                           *Steps off soapbox*

 (And no it's not a fridge even though that's definitely the door's origin.)

          SOURCE: http://www.viralnova.com/used-garbage-homeless-shelters/

Check out the link for a cool little story on the "huts!"

 

Dinosaurs.

Today, we were handed a pile of tiny creatures. The mini dinosaurs and insects were spread out all over the table for us to take our pick from.  There were 2-3 small flat sheets of wood to let you build the mini structures in each packet. (Sadly, no, they weren't real.) But they were pretty entertaining to put together.
     Originally, upon first sight of these little flat packets, I thought it was child's play. However, as I later found out, it was actually somewhat difficult (and slightly frustrating) to find the right notches to connect.
     Eventually, we got it, and ended up having a beautiful little family of a spinosaurus with funky ribs and a wooly mammoth that doesn't use one leg to stand. Tada.