Portfolio

Ta, Jimmy

See the Eye and Think the Mind

Training the Eye and Mind Behind my eye and mind.

While developing designs through out landscape design projects, there is a strong connection between concepts and visualizations, which I refer to them as the eye and mind. Our thoughts are quite compelling in our minds; however, these thoughts are superficial unless it is communicated through another’s eye. The eye becomes a tool we use to communicate our drawings and visualization to others; however, these visualizations cannot think for themselves if one does not have the mind for it. I seek the connection and balance between the eye and mind when designing. Together, one must develop the eye and mind to accurately articulate one’s ideas that solves problems and promotes a deeper thinking with the mind.

Training the Eye and Mind

Observation and exploration through the techniques, theories, analysis, and designs of landscape architecture.

Agrideen

Third Year Connecting the conceptual ideas and visualizations

Little Tokyo

First Year Training the eye through experimentations and errors.

Empire, Dave’s Residence

Technicolor

Third Year Connecting the conceptual ideas and visualizations

First Year Training the eye through experimentations and errors.

Home and Harmony

To Collide and Stretch

The Colony

Second Year Questioning the mind and conceptualize thoughts

Fourth Year Master the skills and accurately articulate concepts

Fourth Year Master the skills and accurately articulate concepts

First Year

Training the eye through experimentations and errors.

Training the Eye In my first year in landscape architecture, I was trained to develop an aesthetic eye. The techniques were taught to get our feet wet and experience the basics of landscape architecture and terms. This became my fascination of graphic representation. With the rapid growth in computer application of drawings and renderings, I still believe in the importance of developing the eye through hand graphics.

The correlation between hand graphics and computer graphics begin to dictate my abilities in the computer.

ENV 101| Foundations of Design Little Tokyo

Little Tokyo had a historic background of the Japanese community. Along with the attractions, the elements of water features, music, and sculptures provide the attention of a community that provides the enclaves of visitors. This area provides an experience to the users who immerses themselves into the Japanese culture. The study of drawings capture the foundations of experiences witnessed within the moments.

Empire, Dave’s Residence

into a single residential home.

Graphically speaking, it provides

While providing the client’s an understanding of the client’s needs of star wars, Japanese fighter needs through the importance of planes, and martial arts interests, the project begins to combine these interests visualization for the clients.

LA 251 | Landscape Graphics

Second Year

Questioning the mind and conceptualize thoughts

Developing the Mind In the second year of landscape architecture, the concept plays a bigger role in design. The techniques are applicable; however, the premise of ideas and credibility becomes the essence of developing the mind. A project must have confidence and catch a strong first impression.

I believe there is more than just a graphics that sell the design, but the credibility and the confidence in the project justifies the strength of a project. The concepts become a strong component and the actions to achieve these concepts pair along well. This is the year to question designs. The questioning of designs promote the growth and find the flaws within the designs.

To Collide and Stretch

Project Description

In the development of understanding the mind and concepts behind the model making, the abstract and the technicality is linked together. While constructing the thoughts and the concepts, the models provide the endless possibilities of utilizing Richard Serra’s action words to help exercise the mind of design. The collection of “to slope, to step, and to curve� provides the unless possibilities of a design solution to many forms of design typologies. The mind is tested through the possibility of constructing and providing the vision of creating what is not possible superficially.

The action words such as to collide and to stretch becomes the test of the mind and concepts to create what is

behind the thoughts. The craft provides the credibility of the concepts behind the thoughts and now visually conveys what is behind the mind. Behind the craft and materiality, it is important to note the carefulness and intentions behind every detail. The detail of the quantities, the quality, and the materiality provides the message that dictates the impression of one’s interpretation of the maker’s mind.

LA 201 | Basic Landscape Design

Third Year

Connecting the conceptual ideas and visualizations

Utilizing the Eye and Mind While finding my niche in the third year of landscape architecture, the eye and the mind becomes a strong connection within conveying ideas. A project must speak itself through the concepts, ideas, accuracy, and the aesthetics to convey the argument of a better design. There is no right or wrong answer, but a better solution and answer by utilizing skills learned through out my three years in the program. The connections between the mind and the eye promotes the argument of a project through the understanding of conveying ideas in a concise and accurate manner. This becomes the driving argument in using both the eye and mind together.

Agrideen Project Statement

Focusing on capturing the narrative through synthesization of the area’s diverse history, the Agrideen project proposes revitalization of Aberdeen with emphasis on its agricultural history. Aberdeen is in close proximity to the Owens River and Calvert Lake. Once the LADWP acquired the land, Aberdeen became a rail town for transporting goods. After the water diminished from Owens, Aberdeen was abandoned. This project focuses on revitalizing the agricultural community that was once central to Owens Valley.

This project was the initial practice of understanding the conceptual ideas linked with the drawings that conveys the ideas. With Agrideen, vvvvv

LA 301 | Intermediate Landscape Design

Technicolor

Colored Spaces

Vegetated Spaces

Project Narrative

Located at Wadsworth Elementary School of Los Angeles School District, the school consists of a painted koi pond on the black asphalt pavement.

The painted mural piece has been attracting students to the piece, thus creating an influence of color to Colored Spaces the school. Technicolor examines the color influence and psychological effects to the students attending Achieved through Koi Wadsworth elementary. Each of these colors become Pond Colors integrated with the koi pond’s colors, which then allows Benefits the connection between what is existing and what Instructional Purposes -Playground zoning is already working on campus. With that, the school experiences a different playing with the colors and allow Clean Campus -Entire campus painted faculty to have control with organizing play, such as mitigates dust and dirt playing zones or even roll call. This is a way of impacting Storytelling -Orange: sun -Blue: water -Green: grass

Wayfinding Building Spaces

Achieved through relationship of architecture and ground Benefits Easy movement through areas Able to find areas easily

Asphalt

Existing

the students more with the benefits of color and heat mitigation from paints, but also use less materials to create the affordability of these projects to Wadsworth Elementary S cho o l.

LA 303 | Intermediate Landscape Design

Fourth Year

Master the skills and accurately articulate concepts

Refining the Eye and Mind In the last year of the landscape architecture, the skills learned is now put into test. The speed and production is taken into consideration when design. Refining the eye and the mind becomes a task as a fourth year landscape architecture student. It is now a matter developing the keen eye and mind together. Perfection is the important in future projects and the accuracy must be spot on. The concepts should be bold and complimented with the visualization of these ideas. It becomes clear when understanding how the eye and mind becomes a powerful tool in terms of producing landscape designs.

Home and Harmony Journaling through analysis and experiences

In the process of journaling my experiences and the analysis in China, I refine my understanding of spatial and experiential qualilties. Whether located in China or not, documentation of drawing and photographing help understand the meaning and construction behind it. I sought to train my eye and mind during my trip in China, which was extra

practice for me . This allowed me to fully immerse myself in the hidden culture within my Chinese roots. I am not able to speak Mandarin myself; however, I feel the connection and home within the culture. The drawings help me express my ability to capture moments with almost any medium I can find.

While traveling, we stayed in Beijing for three weeks and moved from there to Shanghai, Guilin, and Hong Kong. The experiences help understand the different cultures that have created China, then provided the understand of China as a whole. With the interdisciplinary studio, I enjoyed learning from others and opening my minds to other disciplines, which allowed me to expand on how landscape architecture is connected with many disciplines.

ENV China | Interdisciplinary Design Studio

H o m e and H ar m o ny

Hierarchial interests: Residents of China

Hierarchial interests: Residents of China

Scale

Residential Population

J ing shan P ar k Z ho ng nanhai Forbidden City

Bell Tower Drum Tower F ir e Tem p le B eihai P ar k

S hichahai L ake

Forbidden City-First Ring

Thir d R ing S eco nd R ing

F o ur th R ing

Fifth Ring

Scale

Project Narrative

While developing the site for different user groups, the context of the site had to be established.

Contextually, Beijing was surrounded within five former rings. Beijing consists of many historic sites, such as the Forbidden City and the towers. In regards to the population, residential and tourist population have a contrary needs. The duality between the these user types were taken into consideration to develop a plan for the needs of these people.

The concept becomes a home and harmony for these user groups. This concept becomes an goal

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to provide the needs of these people that includes the following: comfort, familiarity, and safety. Within these needs, there are different scales to accommodate for the different type of user groups.

The regional scale, community scale,

and the residential scale is a key component in bring the integration of all user types. Methods of design included a development, connection and expansion to relink popular site visitation among all user groups.

Locals Future: Immediate Extended

Safety Safety through architecture Familiarity Familiarity through materials and landmarks

Comfort Comfort through convenient distances and resources

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Short Term: Tourists Backpackers

Development Expansion Existing Waters No Proposed Design Proposed Design

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Long Term: Students Researchers Business

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Resources: Food and 1000’ 1500’ Shopping

Develop

Behind the Process

Within the develoment of Home and Harmony, the analysis was done through the heavy usage of surveys and observations within the city of Beijing. This allowed the group to fully understand the context of the city and better design for the people of Beijing. Within the process, scales are taken into consideration with the different users such as visitors and the people who have been living in Beijing as residents. This is the duality between the users and figuring out how to accommodate for both of these users without compromise the accessible living of either parties.

The design procedure was different than those in America, where as the analysis was studying the culture while living in China, but there were limitations with the language barrier and the lack of internet resources. The design process helped honed by analysis skills without the reliance of books or online resources to understand the place. I believe this gives studnets like me the hands on experience of analyzing spaces, culture, and people through the active process of drawing and photographing the sites within.

Connection

Expansion

ENV China | Interdisciplinary Design Studio

Egalitarian Awakening | The Colony 1973--Oil Crisis

1980s--Middle Class Begins to Decline

2008--Start of Great Recession Foreclosure Crisis Rising Unemployment

2011: 99% Movement Occupy Everything!

Exposes Underlying Cause of Economic Crisis Demand Change to Social, Political & Economic Systems

Population: 12,000

Dodger Stadium

2013--Present

Government Dissatisfaction Awareness of Resource Scarcity Rising Cost of Education

2025--Economic Depression Gas Prices Top $10/gal.

Increased Wealth Disparity 99% Movement Reemerges Food Costs 30% Over 2013 Prices

Population: 20,000

2035--Suburban Populations Begin to Move to Urban Centers Banks Collapse as Mortgages Go Unpaid 2040--Outlaw of Gas Fueled Cars (20 yr. Faze Out)

110 FWY

2050--Food Prices 120% Over 2013 Prices Population: 40,000

Gas Prices Top $20/gal.

Resource Hoarding by Powerful & Wealthy Deep Class Divides Faltering Economy 2075--U.S. Exhausts Oil Reserves Population: 44,000

2075--THE HAVOC Period of Intense Social & Civil Unrest Near Panic & Social Collapse

2076--THE EGALITARIAN AWAKENING Like Minded Individuals Begin to Organize for Change Traditional Currency A Land Ownership Abolished Population: 52,000

Egalitarian Awakening

fails to acknowledge this significant issue.

A response to the We will not "fix" every broken, pervasive social inequality and stratification along the Broadway stressed or disjointed system: some may merit repair or augmentation, Corridor and surrounding some may be beyond repair and urban matrix. We see stress require new modes or systems, and at the urban edges where some may yet reveal even more new different ethnic, commercial opportunities. What we know, is that and historical districts meet. now it the time to subvert the system.

We see a broken system of This culturally and physically resource distribution throughout upheld system of structured the corridor resulting from stratification reduces the life this inequality. We also see chances for untold members of the a disjointed response in the community. It is time for a change.

Bringing Back Broadway redevelopment strategy, which It is time to change the function of the space and thus change the social

content of the place: this is how we take back our spatial rights.

This is how we give everyone the life chances they deserve, and ultimately how we empower communities.

When we reclaim spatial

rights and program for people— through food security, education, and healthy inhabitation opportunities—we will enable communities to increase control over their lives, and thus build resilient and more equitable communities. We believe in spatial rights for all!

Behind the Process

Within the drawing process, The Colony begins to look at the social problems and issues through the analysis of disconnected typologies. Disconnects include car and building stratafication. As a result, The Colony begins to find the opportunities within the problems and create a better way of living.

LA 401 | Advanced Landscape Design

Egalitarian Awakening | The Colony Behind Modeling

In the development of experimenting with the forms and function behind it, the study models help identify the errors and flaws before designing the final product. The process creates an instantaneous gratification of the product design, which allows room for improvement. As a result, the models become a medium of understanding, rather than the 2 dimensions. I feel the need of creating the models that the computer cannot do, the human touch and expression is applied within materials.

Diagram Narratives

While understanding the algorithmic patterns of ants, the potentials include the efficiency of storage and movement within the colonies. As a result, the connection between humans and animals are similiar in terms of construction and development of a community. This creates the efficiency of building the better living community.

Hospital Chamber Water Chamber Waste Chamber

Collecting light

Collecting water

Collecting methane

Algorithmic Ant Movements

Searching for Resources

Locating all Resources

Outsourcingrails T

L A 401 | Ad v anced L and scap e Desig n

Egalitarian Awakening | The Colony

Water Tunnel Access

Exterior Tunnel Path

High Point

Elysian Park

Hospital Wing Entrance

Los Angeles City Hall

Topographic Depression for Water Collection

Water Chamber Drainage

Low Point

Sediment Cleaning

High Point

Hospital Chamber

Interior Tunnel Path

Project Narrative

Water Tunnel Access

Transporting Energy

Converting Methane to Energy

Topographic Mound for Trapping Methane

Sending Waste

Water Chamber

Energy Hub

Collection of Methane Gas

Waste Chamber

With the economic downfall, the government has been altered, thus reducing resources. Inequality of resource distribution impacted the way people have lived. This provide humans weak infrastructure in terms of maintaining our facilities to store and to place.

Through this process, people take matter into their own hands to deconstruct and r eco nstr uct their env ir o nm ent in order to provide what is needed to provide SANITATION, DRINKABILITY, and WELL-BEING. Ants, our local insects, are not new to this concept.

Ants tend to S TO R E , d eco nstr uct, and r eco nstr uct their env ir o nm ent to make a better home. Humans can learn from these adaptable creatures, rather than inventing the wheel and take on natural GROWTH of a society.

Within Broadway’s community, the 5 fundamental values of community are INCREMENTAL GROWTH, OPPORTUNISTIC ADAPTATION, PRODUCTION, COMMUNAL SUSTENANCE, and INTERDEPENDENCE through subversive means. In sequence, we must provide access to deliver our young and to care for the ill in the CENTER of Broadway. We must collect water at LOW POINTS for efficiency. As for our consumption, we must store our waste FAR from where we live, but must lear n to r euse.

Site Production Waste Chamber Hospital Chamber Water Chamber Water Chamber

Existing Site

Algorithmic Path Potentials

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CollectiveTrail PotentialHospitalTrail Potential WaterTrail Potential

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WasteTrail Potential

LA 401 | Advanced Landscape Design

Jimmy Ta 562.712.5711 jimmykta@gmail.com