Midterm Learning Portfolio Architecture 101
Natasha Emter
Spring 2015 Instructor Jerry Lum City College of San Francisco
TABLE OF CONTENTS Icebreaker ……….4
Itera-on 4………8
Itera-on 1…..…...5
Narra-ve………..9
Itera-on 2………..6
City Hall…………10
Itera-on 3…….....7
Itera-on 6……..12
CONTENTS Itera-on 7…………13
Itera-on 11……….22
Itera-on 8…………16
Itera-on 12……….24
Itera-on 9………..18
Itera-on 13……….26
Itera-on 10………20
Conclusion……….28
WEEK ONE Icebreaker:
Malevich Reinterpreted into Tectonic Form • The first assignment on our first day of class was to examine the artwork “Suprematist Composition 2” by Kazimir Malevich and create a free standing three-dimensional interpretation of any part of the composition. Immediately, I panic as I am aware that I have minimal three-dimensional building skills. In my moment of panic, Jerry says we might as well freak out sooner rather than later. • I made sure the representation was exactly proportionate to the image in the original artwork so that it would be easy to identify.
Itera-on #1 •
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With minimal time to find the best materials, I used thin poster board for the first iteration. I soon realize how time consuming constructing a simple box is, especially when you have never attempted to construct a three-dimensional model to begin with. Once I constructed the first component, everything else came into play quite swimmingly. The most time consuming part of the first iteration was figuring out how to make the model look as clean as possible without a bunch of glue getting in the way. I also came to realize how difficult it was to cut in a perfectly straight line, so I made sure to learn from these obstacles and go get some chipboard, a straight edge, and an X-acto blade for the next iteration to come.
Week 2 Second Constructed Itera-on •
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After a nerve wreaking experience with the first iteration and helpful feedback from the class, I found ways to improve and build off of the first iteration. With the second iteration, I chose to work with chip board this time which I found to be both beneficial and challenging. The chipboard proved to be much more durable than poster-board. However, I did face certain challenges with the chipboard due to the fact that it was a brand new material I have never worked with. With Chipboard being thicker and being a new material to learn, it was consequently more time consuming to work with than poster board. As I faced those challenges, it’s safe to say that chipboard is still a better option in the long run due to it’s affordability, durability, and it is also easy to glue with.
Itera-on 3: Drawings and Photo-‐documen-ng
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In our second week, we were assigned to photograph and draw sketches of our first two • iterations. Going back into a two-dimensional design, this assignment helped me to see the final design process. While my first sketches brought to • attention my major weakness as a drawing artist especially when observing my model in a three-dimensional form, I managed to figure out how to draw more realistic looking sketches by taking a picture of my model, and then drawing from a photographic reference.
Drawing sketches of the models helped me to see certain patterns, and show me ways that I can accentuate certain forms for the next iteration. Photographing the model helped to point out sides of my model that might a little vague and need more detail.
Week 3
Itera-on 4: Model #3
PaSern recogni-on and applica-on
• With this model, my goal was to add to the existing model by removing space. I am also trying to break away from pure symmetry. This clearly proves to be a challenge since the majority of the model still contains a lot of symmetry. With baby steps, I do manage to break away from it ever so slightly by by caving in one side. I have also opened up the pillars so that you can see through them in an attempt to open up my model.
Itera-on 5 Narra-ve •
For the third week we were assigned to develop a narrative that consists of a beginning and end with at least three different spatial experiences. This script is intended to further develop our future designs.
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“I have created a watch-tower for my avatar. From afar the model could appear to be a modern day shrine or a military fighting machine that just may eat you alive. Since the main component appears closed off, the inside remains a mystery. As you walk around one corner on the main base, there is a secret back door that allows you to enter into the mysterious space inside. Around the corner is another tiny entrance where you can hide inside. This side of the model is slightly sloped so that you can climb to the top. The Avatar can jump to the roof and crawl up to the very top where he finds a nook to rest in and keep watch to see if anyone’s coming rom miles away. With the avatar so high up, he figures this is a safe environment to get his beauty rest. From the sleeping nook, he jumps to the top middle tube and then slides out to exit and go tell others of this epic watch-tower.”
Get Inspired! •
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This week, we had the exciting to opportunity to go visit a place that could possibly inspire us. The first place that came to my mind in San Francisco was City Hall. My journey to City Hall started in Hayes Valley. As I walk through Hayes Valley, I notice how quaint this neighborhood is. The streets are more narrow and intimate with lush trees on every block. The cars move slower, and most of the buildings don’t exceed three stories. Exiting Hayes Valley, I can see City Hall from afar. I am stepping away from a quaint neighborhood and passing through a more industrious sector. Like most parts of San Francisco, you quickly go through a picturesque high end neighborhood, and enter a gritty street in just one block. As you reach city hall, there are people from all walks of life. The scale of every building in this vicinity is larger along with the roads and sidewalks that they lie on.
City Hall •
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There are two main entryways, with each one evoking a different feeling. One entrance faces Van Ness which feels chaotic due to the immense traffic just inches away, and the other faces east, which is the entrance I find to be more compelling due to the vast empty space before the entrance. As you walk in to City Hall, you can feel that you are in a space more grand than anything else. The front entrance contains pillars parallel to one another that lead your eyes to the door way then as you look up, lead your eyes up to the very top dome.
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Inside city hall, you could look at different corners and angles for hours and see something new every time due to the intricate detail of every square inch. This assignment helped me to bring our little cardboard models into perspective as well as seeing the importance of patterns and how scale can really accentuate the significance of space.
Week 4: Scale, Propor-ons, and Beauty Itera-on 6 / Model 4
• Objective: Explore design possibilities through scaling up our constructions. • As I incorporated my narrative into • my model, I was able to see more purpose and focus with the next iteration. I am still trying to break away from symmetry as well as growing my model by creating a bit more empty space. While these two
main goals are a struggle, you can see these tiny steps into the right direction. At this point I have also doubled the size of my fourth model since my first iteration. By scaling up this iteration, I was able to see aspects of this design that could use more detail and improvement.
Itera-on 7 Model 5 / Focus the design • I am taking baby steps with my attempt to open up my model and break away from pure symmetry. While this iteration is a bit more simplified than the last, the practicality of it, fit more with the iteration. • Improvements: – I finally managed to completely open up with this iteration. – As I added openings to the walls, light was able to play a larger role
Itera-on 7
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Strengths: My craft continues to improve, and my speed picks up. Weaknesses: – I am still struggling with too much symmetry. – My model looks like a shovel, and I want it to be more than just a simple shovel
Revised Narra-ve With a first glimpse of this configuration, I’d like to evoke a sense of wonder that might make you question if the structure a tree-house without the tree, or a playhouse that did not quite meet safety standards. As you approach the structure, the model feels slightly strange with its various angles and dark corners, yet intriguing enough to invite you in its space. Even though the uneven pillars do not seem too stable, one may still feel compelled to accept an adventure and explore the space. From behind, there is a steep slope in which you can climb up. From there you can either walk carefully along the skinny path into a big rom, or if you feel like exploring more, you can crawl through the tunnel which leads you to the other side, allowing you to sneak up the front side of the structure. Reaching the top main space, you can finally take a deep breath, as the main area gives a feeling of serenity due to its simplicity and open space in comparison to the first experience of approaching the structure. The openings on the walls and ceiling let light come in and open up the room, making it feel more expansive. From the large room, you can overlook the space around you from miles away providing you with a sense of safety. Once you’ve had your feel of security, you can gather your courage to slide down the back for a more thrilling escape route.
Week 5
Itera-on 8 / Model 6 •
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My 8th iteration was a giant leap forward because I finally broke away from symmetry all together. With my narratives in mind, I was able to imagine being a creature and encountering this space. With these ideas in mind I was able to create a more complex structure. With our previous critique I noticed my iterations were starting to look more like militaristic weapons rather than a welcoming space so I found ways to suggest a more playful feel by scoring the chipboard so that it could bend and fold, creating more soft edges instead of harsh angles.
Itera-on 8 • Strengths: – completely breaking away from symmetry – Adding detail when necessary such as multiple paths and entryways.
• Improvements: While the overall craft and stability went down a notch, I feel confident to say this model improved quite a bit due to more intricate detail. I am also proud to break away from • Weakness: by experimenting with ways to add levels, the stability of my just 90 degree and 45 degree angles and play with shape more. model was compromised.
Itera-on 9 Model 7 / Reinterpre-ng Design • With the 9th Iteration we produced a scaled up construction that focused on the hierarchical space. • This helped to hone in on the most significant part of our iteration and try to focus on ways to improve the hierarchical space. • While at first I was certain that this model definitely represented the climactic space, I started to doubt my thoughts after the critique. Having said that I still feel like I gained lot from the previous iteration being able to focus on one component.
Itera-on 9 • Success: my craft improved especially with parts of the design that had curves rather than 90 degree angles • Weakness: I felt that the hierarchical space might be too simple, therefore I need to find ways to add layers
Week 6 / Itera-on 10 Developing a Storyboard • • •
We developed a storyboard to illustrate the sequence of intended experiences to be evoked within our structure. Creating the storyboard to specifically contain a beginning and end definitely helped to enhance the experiential journey. As I created the storyboard, I saw how having multiple levels in your design lead to a more compelling story.
The approach
The entrance
Crawling through the tunnel
Story Board • Story board Climactic space from opposite view
Exiting the tunnel
Exploring the climactic space
Path to the next level
Itera-on 11 Model 8 / Hierarchical layers •
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In an attempt to develop visible hierarchical layers of structure, form and spaces I fount that the storyboard helped to direct my focus of what the hierarchy exactly is. After we enlarged the hierarchical space in the previous iteration, I decided to keep this proportion for the iterations to come so that I could focus on the details of the more dynamic parts of the model. Strengths: my craftsmanship continues to improve, and I’ve managed to create curves without the model collapsing on itself Cons: This iteration simplified more from iteration 9, and while it looks cleaner, I do feel that it might be too simple
Week 7 / Itera-on 12
Model 9: bones •
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Just as I was beginning to feel comfortable with my craft and bringing forth my ideas into a tangible form, I felt increasingly challenged once again. While at first the assignment seemed fairly easy with just replicating the previous iteration into a skeletal form, but once I dived into the process, I faced new challenges that did not originally cross my mind. I stuck with chipboard and cut each piece to be one centimeter thick.
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As I glued to first two pieces together I thought this would be a breeze. However as the iteration developed I came across the challenge of keeping my structure in the form I had intended such as aiming for perfect 90 degree angles. Designing a skeletal model also caused the structure to be more flimsy. With the end process, I later discovered that one centimeter might have been too thick to evoke a true skeletal form.
Itera-on 13 Model 10: bones and skin • Using nature to promote form, form of space and transitions between elements • After reviewing nature inspired work and organic forms of architecture, I had direct intentions to incorporate more organic form into this next iteration. • I initially attempted to try a new material, bamboo sticks. This attempt to experiment with a new material was a challenge and cost me extra time. The bamboo sticks did not glue together as easily as chipboard, so while the bamboo could have been more aesthetically pleasing, I decided to combine chipboard in with the bamboo sticks.
• In order to make the model appear more skeletal than the last, I narrowed the width of the chipboard from 1 centimeter to half of that. With the pieces being more narrow, this also gave me to opportunity to bend certain pieces in order to incorporate that organic sensation I had been striving for. • Adding skin to the model required a new set of skills that I did not expect. While I had expected this part of the assignment to be easier, I do wish I had more time to carefully craft the skin together.
• Pros: Accomplishing an organic form • Cons: with time on the line, my craft became more sloppy in the last hour • While the final outcome did not appear as carefully crafted as I had intended, I am happy with my learning outcome for this iteration because it helped me to explore a new way of approaching my model.
CONCLUSION • Coming into this class, I honestly did not know what to expect. • I appreciate the learning path of starting with a completely abstract 2 dimensional painting, and slowly growing our models into something more concrete where you can eventually visualize your model into being a real living space. • With the first class, I honestly had my doubts on whether I would I have the time to complete every iteration to a satisfactory level. This class taught me how well one can work under pressure.