December 2nd Critique- Pathways/Edges/Boundaries

Our final critique turned out very well. We laid our pieces at 8 am before the critique, and found a pattern that we were quite fond of. When the walk through happened, we got alot of feedback regarding how we should install them. Most people seemed to like the idea of keeping them above ground. Some suggested laying grass in between the borders, others agreed with our idea to lay pebbles. The audience seemed to love our designs for this parking lot. I am extremely excited to install and make this project work in the parking lot.

House Shadow in Perspective Exercise

This exercise was intended to help us practice how to draw shadows in perspective.

North Arrow and Scale Exercise

This exercise was meant to expose us to the many different types of north arrows. It was also intended to give us practice on drawing lines to scale.

Basis pictures for my perspective drawings

These are the four pictures that I based my perspective drawings off of. I had to take a picture of them because the computer with a big scanner was rendering. After the semester I will cut these pictures to their original size and individually scan them so that it's clearer.

Pathways, Edges and Boundaries

For this project I was part of the Oasis group. After putting together a lengthy presentation about parking lot behavior and downsizing a 24 hour video to one hour and nineteen minutes, we finally got down and dirty with concrete. We came up with some ideas (many were rather literal, surprisingly). 

We originally desired to put furniture on our "island", however, after the class critique we all decided that furniture was out of the picture. We had also thought about putting a bird bath, but the class also ruled out water. After cutting out a bunch of inspiration pictures, as well as making some drawings and creating a 3D model, we decided to get going with out idea. 

The fourth picture is an example of one of the first pieces I casted. I cast concrete in a cardboard box, unaware that it had a dip in the bottom. When I took it out, It looked like that. It was a mistake, but I kind of liked it because it made me think of other possible textures, and it somewhat corresponded with the parking lot behind the oasis (the sidewalk between cars). 

Our group had decided to create a pathway mixing circles and squares, so we collected shoeboxes and carpet rolls and cut them to size. We got right to work with casting. We tried sawdust and woodshavings as aggregates, but eventually we ended up resulting to pearlite. 

After casting in many different shapes and sizes, we ran into a rather large speed bump. Yes, we had been  casting like crazy, but we got too far away from our original idea. We then had to regroup and come up with a new arrangement for these shapes. We got rid of the columns altogether and decided to create an edge rather than a pathway, though I suppose you could say that our idea creates an implied pathway. we decided to replace the continuation of the columns with the continuation of the edge. 

Though we had come up with a new idea, our exhibit model had already been made, so we will note in our presentation that modifications have already been made. That's design, right? As a part of the model group, I created our pathway and cut out several circles and squares to scale. After all our models we're finished, the exhibit group got together and took some time to plan out a strategic exhibit. We painted the panels, and then moved the three of them around several times to see where they looked good. Originally, we wanted to set them up so that they directed people walking into the building towards iarc. However, that setup did not favor a friendly presentation. Instead, we decided to create something like a box, and got rid of one panel. We hung all the drawings on the panels, as well as process pictures and throw-up sheets. On the main wall we have site plans, as well as the "table" (if you will) for the model. We also included seating for those favored guests.

Perspective Final Drawings

These four perspective drawings are based off of four pictures that I found in magazines. The first picture is a 2 point perspective of a living room/library. The second is a one point perspective of the outside of a house in a reflection. The third is a 3 point perspective of the famous empire state building in NYC. The fourth is of an abstract church. In the fourth drawing, I intended to provide a light source and show the shadows made by it.

two point perspective

This is a two point perspective of my living room.

One Point Perspective of my room at home

This is a one point perspective sketch of my bedroom at home. 

Orthographic Projection (DRAFTING)

October 28, 2008- For this assignment, we were asked to look at the orthographic drawing and draw the sides accordingly. For the front, top and right side, some was already drawn out for us, and we were asked to add or "correct" them to match the orthographic projection. We were then asked to come up with a left side as well. If you look closely, you will notice that some things are drawn in pink colored pencil. The areas in colored pencil are the areas that I corrected. 

When I tried to scan these and align them in photoshop, it would not work. So, instead, I took individual pictures of each drawing and put them on here.

The Vanna Venturi House (DRAFTING)

October 30, 2008

Woodland Chapel (DRAFTING)

November 6, 2008

Scale- 1/4":1'

Exercise 6.4 (DRAFTING)

October 30, 2008

Scale- 

Building Elevation- p. 152 (DRAFTING)

November 4th, 2008

Scale- 1/4":1'

Dialog: Elevations

These are 2 elevations of my final dialog project

Dialog: Plan

This is a plan view of my final Dialog project.

Dialog: Final Graphic

This is my graphic for my final dialog project. The words in the middle are all of the Gestalt principles that were incorporated into my model. I decided to use the batman symbol for my precedent, as I showed earlier in this sequence. My objective for this model: To divide a unified space into two unified spaces using only skewers. The model at the top is an example of how I connected my cards together.

My cubicle

This is my desk in the studio. In terms of shading, I decided to focus on the far corner as well as underneath my drafting board.

Site Plans

 These are the two topography maps I drew. In one, I made the house values darker and in the other, I made the contour darker. Where the lines are closer together, there's more shade because of the steepness.

MY HOUSE: Google Earth (ed)

This is my house in plan view. I'm assuming that this photo was taken in the winter, because you can see right through the trees. Normally, with the amount of trees around my house, you wouldn't be able to see the road so clearly. theres 2 hills in front of my house, one goes down to the left woods, and one goes down to the bottom of the driveway. Theres another hill in my backyard which slants down to the left woods. If you look closely, you can see a path in the back left leading to the neighbor's, but most of the property is split by trees.

Final Dialog Project

This is my final dialog project. Dialog is created in this project through the 2 identical adjacent spaces. My aim for this project was to create two distinct spaces using only skewers as a divider. By dividing using skewers instead of paper, it creates a closer connection between the two spaces, like two best friends telling eachother their deepest darkest secrets. The structure of this model is extremely important. Not only do the skewers on the sides create a bone structure, but they also further the dialog. The broken skewers mock the "breaking" (folding) of cards throughout the model.

In terms of Gestalt principles, dialog is created through proximity, pattern, closure, alignment and similarity.

Final Unity Project

This is my final Unity project. I chose this set for my photos because the wood in the project parallels to the wood base. Unity in this project is created by alignment, pattern, proximity, overlap and similarity; more specifically in the perpendicular intersections and the negative space.

Dialog Critique

1. How is dialog created?

I think dialog can be created in many different ways. In this project, for me, dialog meant "a conversation between two relative spaces using Gestalt or other "artistic" vocabulary (shape, size, contrast, etc.) For example, you could have one space inside another, two spaces adjacent to eachother, two spaces that are contradicting forms (a circle and a square), two spaces that are two different sizes, etc. Some people created a dialog using a base, or intertwining their two spaces to create one.

2. How is a sense of space/place defined?

 Space" the unlimited or incalculably great three-dimensional realm or expanse in which all material objects are located; extent or room in three dimensions (dictionary.com). 

There are many different ways to create a sense of space. However, I think that in order for a person to be able to interpret where the intended spaces are in this project, they must be somewhat obvious. For example, in my project, I created 2 spaces that drew the eye in order to emphasize my intentions. Once again, gestalt principles have a lot to do with defining a space in terms of concepts such as continuation, or closure, or alignment.

3. How is the idea of system generated?

In order to create a "system" all parts in a whole must relate. Even if all the parts are entirely different, so long as they are connected in the same way as the rest, they create a system. Presenting our unity projects and dialog projects together made alot of sense, because in order to have unity, there must be dialog. I never thought about what dialog is presented in my unity project, until after creating a model for the dialog project. I feel like the word "system", in this sense, goes hand in hand with the word "composition".

4. How does the joinery support the project concept/strategies?

In terms of the project concept (dialog) I think joinery definitely helps to define the particular spaces. In terms of strategies, joinery plays a huge role. Joinery is extremely important because not only does it complement the project, but it also creates a structure. For my project, joinery had to do with both concept and strategy. My skewers played a role in a rectangular shape of my project. However, the skewers were also set up to cut that rectangular form in half, defining two spaces. I also broke the end skewers to mimic the "breaking" (folding) of the paper.

5. How is scale utilized in the project?

Scale must be perfected in this project, because scale is a major factor in defining space. For example, there are small spaces in my project that are triangular, but they are so small compared to the intended spaces, that they seem irrelevant because their scale is off. it's also important for the scale of cards to be in relation to the scale of the skewers.

6. How do two-dimensional images add to the understanding of the project?

Perhaps in drawings it's easier to notice the intended spaces, whereas it could become quite confusing in actual 3D form. Images also portray concept and process, where it's easier to know what the designer was thinking when they designed their project.

7. How did the initial project idea evolve?

There were a lot of different processes in this project. Some people used precedents, and others based their projects on the exact definitions of "space" and "dialog". Lots of people picked out Gestalt principles before starting, while others just fooled around with the materials, and picked their projects apart afterwards. I wanted to relate my dialog project to my unity project since we would be presenting them together, so that was my motivation.

Dialog: Idea #3

This is my most recent model. I decided to make the top and bottom layers identical to create unity. I had two skewers on the top, two on the bottom, and six in the middle, and once again I was stuck with two left over. I wanted to avoid the issue I had with the previous model in terms of attracting unwanted attention. I decided to break the two skewers, and stick them in to create a rectangular shape. The broken skewers envelope my two spaces. I thought this was really cool, and I am thrilled about the elevation. The ends of the skewers are hidden, almost like they just disappear into thin air.

Dialog: Idea for a Graphic

I'm hoping this comes across as humorous. When asked to create a "practice" graphic, I was stumped. I was hoping that my end product would change so I decided to create my graphic based on a precedent: the batman symbol. I thought the phrase was quite catchy as well. I also incorporated some Gestalt principles into it. These principles give my model dialog.