In-Progress Learning Portfolio
ORIOL ROYO OBREGĂ“N Arch 101. Architectural Design Studio I Jerry W. Lum City College of San Francisco
A.1
What’s my Sign? Concept Generation + Collages Pg. 4
A.2
What’s my Sign? My Sign 1.0 Pg. 6
A.3. What’s my Sign? My Sign 2.0 Pg. 8
B.
2
A Journey of Discovery Pg. 10
Table of Contents
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The first collage I created consists on adjectives that describe who I am.. I decided to organize them following the shape of a redwood tree. By using a natural element I incorporated my passion for the environment into my description. I have intentionally chosen a redwood tree since to me, they represent wisdom, longevity and a they provide a solid structure. The adjectives are placed in the tree with an intention. I placed the adjective persistent in the roots of the tree since it represents who I’ve been since I was a child. On the trunk of the tree I placed attributes of me that made me take very important, challenging and scary decision during my life. The lower –and older- branches have qualities that I have since I was born, the medium branches include adjectives that I discovered about myself overtime through life changes and experiences. The top branches include adjectives that even if they are part of me, I still have to develop. The second collage is a compilation of images that represent persistency, adaptability and capability. The images are personal pictures, images from artists such as Andy Goldsworthy and Rebecca Johnson and images found on the internet. I created the third collage just as a way to organize my ideas and images and to be able to create a final and more abstract collage full of symbolism.
SECOND COLLAGE
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THIRD COLLAGE
A.1 What’s my Sign? Concept Generation and Collages
FOURTH COLLAGE
FIFTH COLLAGE
For my fourth collage I used a black and white manmade rock wall that seems to be unbreakable. I placed in the middle what represents a crack, an explosion that breaks the unbreakable wall. . For the explosion I used colors with warm hues and high saturation to call the attention of the public and make sure that they focus on the dark and small picture of the middle.
For the fifth collage, by using oblique directions I wanted to create a tension between destruction, pollution and degradation and an alternative future, a green future in which human beings embrace nature.
The central image represents how the current type of human development is pushing away and destroying the natural environment that sustain us.. The picture has a lot of symbolism and even if it uses dark colors, the part in which nature has been removed looks dirtier and darker than the part in which nature is still present.
For the alternative future in which I included green walls and roofs, wind turbines and an organic design from GaudĂ I used bright colors. In this collage bright colors represent an awakening.
For the destruction, located in the top right -which to me represents an aggressive and abusive position- I used dark colors with the exception of a forest fire.
In the middle of the collage I used a plain (representing human development) and a snake (representing sin) colliding and creating an explosion in which nature is freed again.
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For my first sign I used reclaimed barn wood to represent persistency, the persistency of wood to be s t ro n g ove r t i m e , wa x e d string for adaptability and brass metal for capability.
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I n o rd e r t o c re a t e a n attractive combination I used red, white and gold colors.
The next step was a little bit tedious, it consisted on attaching the nails to the wood board.
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To create the sign I started by choosing a word that scares me but that has always been a motor in my life, change.
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I n o rd e r t o m a k e i t attractive I experimented with different fonts until I found one that was attractive for my sign.
O n c e t h e n a i l s we re i n placed I had to remove the paper that I used as a reference.
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The last step consisted in adding the waxed string to the sign.
I properly sized the font according to the size of the wood and I clean the contour of the letters in order to be able to proceed with the next step.
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Fo r t h i s s t e p , i t wa s important to keep a small and homogeneous distance between the nails to avoid the sign to look ‘pixeled’ when adding the string.
In order to create a crisp word I started and finished adding the string to the contour of my word.
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A.2 What’s my Sign? My Sign 1.0 REFLECTIONS • Strengths: a. The sign was within the required parameters and it was solid and stable. b. The sign is attractive and unique. c. I managed my time properly. • Weaknesses: a.
At first it didn’t cause impression in the public.
an
b.
The small details were not appreciated from the public.
c. I can improve my design method by organizing my ideas since the beginning. • Opportunities: a.
Create a sign that can be placed parallel to the wall. b. I can create a more interesting, architecturally pleasant sign. • Threats: a. The new sign needs to be related to this sign and I am using heavy materials.
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The second sign was more challenging since it required to be more abstract and to have two sides.
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I decided to use a circle to give shape to the sign. In order to create a ‘perfect’ circle I used a dish as a reference.
I n o rd e r t o r e p r e s e n t “change” in an abstract way, I used a symbol composed by three spirals. S i n c e t h e s i g n h a s t wo fa c e s , I d u p l i c a t e d t h e symbol.
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I am lucking of resources such as hammers and a saw but I managed to ask a friend to use his tools.
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Since I knew about the second sing, I already had another piece of wood for it.
I experimented with different ideas and designs i n o rd e r t o c re a t e a n appealing symbol.
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I adapted a long piece of the same type of reclaimed wood to create the sign structure.
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W i t h a n a t u ra l s t r i n g , I balanced the weight of the sign and its structure to ensure that it was stable on the wall.
As with the first sign, the last step consisted in adding the waxed string to the sign. In order to create a crisp word I started and finished adding the string to the contour of my word.
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A.3 What’s my Sign? My Sign 2.0 REFLECTIONS • Strengths: a. The sign was within the required parameters and it was solid and stable. b. I made drawings and research about how to distribute the weight of the sign. c. I used heavy materials and only two pins to sustain the sign because of the thoughtful design it was structurally sound.
but
d. All the materials are part of the sign including the string that supports it to the wall. • Weaknesses: a. I only experiment with the sign once, I took too much of a risk but not placing the sign in the wall before the class. b. I could had experiment with new materials. • Opportunities: a. Learn more about structures and forces to make a more paradoxical sign. b. Improve the level of detail by for example sealing the wood and using two string colors that create volumes. • Threats: a. Not experimenting with other techniques and materials. b. Maintain a high level of energy to continue improving myself.
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MISSION BAY
MISSION DISTRICT
POTRERO HILL
DOG PATCH
MY JOURNEY, THE AREAS THAT I VISITED AND THE SPOTS IN WHICH I TOOK PICTURES
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B. A Journey of Discovery
EMOTIONS: MISSION Charming and intriguing BAY feeling characteristics
of old places.
Overwhelming amount of c re a t i ve p i e c e s o f furniture and art. The history smelled.
MISSION DISTRICT
POTRERO HILL
can
be
There is an organized chaos that makes you feel comfortable inside DOG the space. PATCH It is like a toy store for adults that produce us surprise, excitement, desire of discovery and adventure.
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MISSION BAY
MISSION DISTRICT
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POTRERO HILL
DOG PATCH
B. A Journey of Discovery
EMOTIONS: MISSION The BAY
reflection of the olive tree with the lights produced me a feeling of calm and tranquility. The size of the mirror and lanterns make you feel small but calm, protected.
MISSION DISTRICT
POTRERO HILL
The warm color of the lights look like candles that bring warmth to DOG you during that cloudy PATCH day. The material palette – metal, stone, wood- are noble and strong, the place has a sense of eternity.
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MISSION BAY
MISSION DISTRICT
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POTRERO HILL
DOG PATCH
B. A Journey of Discovery
EMOTIONS: MISSION BAY
The perspective of this pier and the next door building create a sense of infinity and distance. It felt like a place in which you will go to say goodbye, maybe because you are leaving or maybe because somebody is leaving you. The sound of the bay was very low but constant and captivating, it surrounded you and knocked out the sound of the adjacent street.
MISSION DISTRICT
The aged posts of the pier seem strong but deteriorated like some older people that once was POTRERO DOG part of my life. HILL
PATCH
There was something else special about the place that at the beginning I wasn’t identifying. It was the smell of ocean that even if it was not great, it was brining me back memories of my childhood.
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MISSION BAY
MISSION DISTRICT
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POTRERO HILL
DOG PATCH
B. A Journey of Discovery
MISSION BAY
MISSION DISTRICT
POTRERO HILL
DOG PATCH
EMOTIONS: This two independent discoveries were a surprise to me, they seem to be related but because of their locations I don’t think they are related. Both reflect and inspire the
power of nature in completely different ways, once represents the power of nature cracking a concrete floor, the second one reminds me to the terrain of mountain or the bed of a river.
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MISSION BAY
MISSION DISTRICT
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POTRERO HILL
DOG PATCH
PIER 70 DISTRICT HISTORICAL SHIPYARD
B. A Journey of Discovery
MISSION BAY
EMOTIONS:
This building seems taken from a pace in which a war just took place.
MISSION DISTRICT
POTRERO HILL
It creates in my a feeling of loneliness and sadness. The destroyed windows and overgrowth nature make you feel that the DOG stop by in that space. time PATCH
To me it seems unbelievable that in a city as expensive as San Francisco, it has not been restored.
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