Joseph Guzman WYNN STUDIO ARCH 131 | FALL 2016
CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN LUIS OBISPO
Joseph Guzman
Union City, California Born March 20, 1998 Filipino-American Studies Architectural Engineeing Enjoys playing volleyball, basketball, & video games Loves family, friends, traveling, & music
Table of Contents
01 First Process 02 Sheared Shapes 03 Tectonic Cube 04 Solid/Void 05 Final RefIection
01 First Process
The idea of this project is simple. Take 9 abstract images in a square format, then using two 2D images create an abstract composition using strong lines and direction on bristol paper. At first I thought this project was going to be simple and straightforward, but it really was not. First off we had to take 9 pictures that we thought were abtract and would be easy to use for this project we were going to do. This part of the project was actually very fun to do because I got to mess around with different angles and positions when I took the photos. The hardest part was pulling two of these 9 photos and creating this abstract composition that I had no idea on how to create. My peers and I were all confused, but we eventually figured it out. We had to get out of our comfort zone and go for whatever we were thinking when we thought of abstraction. I am pleased with the composition that I had came up with because I was beginning to understand where the ARCH professors were leading us to.
Original Photos
Edited Black & White
Final Two Chosen Photos
Final Drawing
02 Sheared Shapes
ww
For the Sheared Shape project, we were assigned to first contruct four primitives out of bristol board. The shapes were cone, cylinder, cube, and tetrahedron. They also had to be able to be inscribed a 6” cubic bounding box. My approach to this task was laying them all out in a net drawing on bristol, then cuting them out. After constructing these primitives we had to choose one shape to truncate. I chose the cube because not only was it the easiest to cut sections into, but I thought it would be the most simple shape to use in the metal shop. Before receiving the sheet metal, I went into Rhino and layed my shape out in the program. I then had to cut my design into separate pieces so I could lay it onto the sheet metal. The actual design of my project was simple. Think of the game “Fruit Ninja” and just start slicing at the cube. I also wanted to make sure I could show the inside of the shape as well so I made big cuts.
Bristol Primitives
Bristol Sheared Shapes w/ Color
Model #1
Model #2
Diagram #1
Diagram #2
Final Diagram Cut into Portions
Process
Final Metal Sheared Shape
Reflection The process that I went through for this project was very confusing, frustrating, and time-consuming, but I found the feeling of completing this project extremely satisfying. I realized that I had learned so much in such a small amount of time. I went from not even knowing what bristol paper was or how to cut paper with an X-Acto knife to creating truncated shapes of all sizes. The beginning of this project took the most time because I was new to everything, so I was figuring out the tools at the same time while I was using them. Bending and cutting the thin layers of sheet metal was surprisingly a very tedious task. I went through numerous cuts and finger jammings, but the end product made it all worth it. Plus using the machines in the shop was a great experience for me because I had never worked with actual machines before. I learned how to spot weld, drill, cut, and bend metal all by actually using these machines. The experience I had in the metal shop was a mixture of pain and enjoyment all at the same time. As I was getting frustrated, I was getting a feeling of happiness because I was doing something that I had never done before. I learned a variety of things in this project from drawing and drafting to hands-on metal forming.
03 Tectonic Cube
The goal of the Tectonic Cube project was to be able to create an object of wood accurately within a prescribed volume. We were told to plan out how we would turn a 48’’ plank into a solid 3D cube. My initial thought was that this was going to be nearly impossible to do. It tooks lots of planning and sketches to find a design that would use up all the wood. One of the most important things we had to focus on when doing this project was craftsmanship and having a process. Planning out your cuts and keeping track of your pieces are key in this project. My inspiration for this wooden cube was just putting nice, clean shapes together and hoping it would turn out to be something that catches the eye. I wanted to have some depth in my cube as well so I pushed one of the sides inside to give it a better 3D illusion. Overall, I think the design and craftsmanship of my cube is very clean and pleasing to the eye.
Study Models : Full Scale
Model #1
Model #2
Net Drawing
Sections
Axonometric
Process
Process
Final Tectonic Cube
RefIection This wood project surprisingly allowed me to learn many new things in a short period of time. I was not only introduced to learning how to work with wood and use the wood shop, I also learned how to draw orthographic and axonometric drawings to represent my cube. Drawing shapes in three dimenions are so much more easier now having done an exercise of 18 different patterns that I had to turn into axonometric drawings. Working with wood was unexpectedly very fun because the machines in the shop were very straight forward and it made my experience making my cube very pleasing. Something I learned with cutting wood is that once you miscut or trim too much of something, there is no going back. I had to be very careful cutting or there would be many gaps and the measurements would all get off balanced. I think that this project really opened my mind on the thought about process. I have learned to appreciate craftsmanship because the things craftsman do to make precise cuts and clean connections are not easy to do, and I saw that first hand. I am proud of my craftsmanship when it came to this wood cube because it looks very smooth and clean. It took a lot of work to make it look good but when I was finally finished I was so proud of myself. This project really helped me learn about having a process and planning each step.
04 Solid / Void
The Solid/Void project presented us a challenge in which we had to analyze a famous artist’s abtract art and take ideas from them to turn it into a cube made of plaster. First we had to create numerous orthographic and axonometric drawings of the cube that we planned on making. Then we created drawings of 1/4� sections of each of our study models. Doing this would help us with the formwork. Creating a formwork was the biggest challenge in this project as we had to stack layers on layers and then tape them together to create a hollow cube, ready to be filled with plaster. The artists that inspired my plaster cube was Theo Van Doesburg. I noticed in his art that he used lots of geometrical shapes such as rectangles and squares. He also used lots of horizontal and vertical lines. I turned the things I noticed about his art into a composition. On my plaster cube I emphasized the common L-shape I saw in his art, which was made of rectangles being put together. The end product of my cube is a great representation of Van Doesburg.
99 Diagrams
99 Diagrams
Model Idea #1
Model Idea #2
Model Idea #3
Study Model : Bristol Board
Model #1
Model #2
Model #3
Study Model : Cardboard
Model #3
Positive
Negative
Elevations : 1/4 inch
Model #1
Elevations : 1/4 inch
Model #2
Elevations : 1/4 inch
Model #3
Net Drawing
Sections
Axonometric : Front Side
Axonometric : Back Side
Collage
Process
Final Solid / Void Cube
Reflection The Solid/Void project was the last project of the year and was definitely the most time-consuming one of them all. The part that took the most time was having to cut out 36 squares out of cardboard, then having to cut out the patterns that would eventually form our cube. It was really confusing figuring out what to cut because we had to cut the form of the negative space of our cube so that when you fill it, your cube forms. Despite all of these struggles, I was able to learn so much in terms of formwork and the material itself, plaster. I learned how to stack multiple layers of cardboard and tape them together to create a hollowed out cube that forms an abtract cube when filled. Mixing the ingredients to create the plaster was not too difficult to do. We just had to make sure we worked fast and mixed the plaster until it was a perfect thickness. I saw many people make errors when mixing their plaster, which did not turn out well. When pouring it into our formwork, we had to shake our formwork quickly to get all the air bubbles out. Then after is dried up, the most difficult task was next, ripping the cardboard off and sanding it down. The Solid/Void project presented many challenges, from cutting layers and layers of cardboard to the pouring of the actual plaster. But overall this experience taught me a lot and has definitely helped me understand craft and art as a whole.
Final RefIection
This first quarter was full of confusion, frustration, failure, and sleep deprivation. I did not expect being thrown into projects so suddenly and having to figure out things as I did it. We were literally learning by doing this quarter and it honestly was not that bad. I had to learn by making mistakes and having to redo drawings and study models until I got them right. I would get so frustrated doing the projects, but at the end it was all worth it. I learned so much after doing each project, from learning how to draft better to learning how to use the band saw in the wood shop. These were all great experiences that allowed me to add to my skill set. I remember the First Process being the most confusing of them all. I was so clueless on what we had to do, but after asking a few questions I was able to get an idea. It had to do with abtraction which was not something I was good at creating or thinking about. The Sheared Shapes project was our first taste at hands-on crafting. I had no idea how I was going to turn sheet metal in a sheared shape cube, but after a few cuts I was able to do it. Then came the Tectonic Cube project, my favorite. We were given a long plank of wood and had to turn it into a well crafted wood cube. I really enjoyed using the wood shop and using the tools to create a smooth looking cube.The last project was the Solid/Void cube and this one was the most frustrating and time-consuming one of them all. I remember having to gather layers and layers of cardboard then cut out each one perfectly. Then we had to tape them together with foil tape which unexpectedly gave me numerous deep cuts. The mixing of the plaster was also a challenge but after we were able to fill our formwork in and let it dry, it was so relieving. Overall this quarter has taught me so much in terms of drafting, drawing, and craftmanship. I will never forget the timeless hours I put into each project and the amazing outcome at the end.