Synthesis

By Stephen Tutka

Let’s take a moment away from relating Batman to architecture like my previous few blogs. Here, I’d like to discuss synthesis. At least, I’d like to discuss my understanding of synthesis pertaining to architecture, more specifically, architecture school.

Let’s look at the definitions of two words: Analysis and Synthesis. As defined by dictionary.reference.com analysis is “the separating of any material or abstract entity into its constituent elements (opposed to synthesis ).” While the same website defines synthesis as “the combining of the constituent elements of separate material or abstract entities into a single or unified entity (opposed to analysis, ) the separating of any material or abstract entity into its constituent elements.” I think it important to point out that the definition of analysis is in the definition of synthesis. This may be because in order to synthesize you must first acknowledge the separate elements. Synthesis happens when you pick and choose information from analysis and apply it in another way. Synthesis is design.

I bring this up because in my first review (which I imagine many blogs are about this week) I had this pointed out to me. Analysis is just gathering information but synthesis is applying that information in a new way. In a sense, that is design. An architect is hired for their expertise in synthesis, in design. That thought brings me back to a question that one of my parents friends once asked me, “What is it that an architect does, anyway?” A few long years ago I would have struggled with that answer because I was still learning (and still am learning everyday) what it was that I was doing. I was analyzing the field, the profession, and the schooling I had. Now, I get to look back on what it was that I was (am) learning and synthesize that information. I get to understand it.  I know how to do many different things and, more importantly, I know how to design.

How then, does this pertain to my first review? I showed my analysis, not my synthesis, and not my design. To have a successful presentation it is important to show process, to show the important parts of the analysis that have been carefully gathered and kept. To re-quote Scott Adams “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Design is knowing which ones to keep.” (I say re-quote because Arkham Architecture II used this quote). There are certain decisions that are made by designers and architects because of the synthesis they have done after analyzing what research they have done, that is what makes good design. An architect’s job is to show that synthesis because that is how they came about the design, those are their decisions. 

Passive Solar design consideration for Kathmandu

 By Sabin Chakradhar

Since, we are in the thesis review week; I want to share some of the studies I did for the thesis. I am designing the energy efficient commercial complex in Kathmandu, and my first goal is to use utilize the renewable energy extensively. There are numbers of renewable energy sources but unfortunately not many are available for Kathmandu. Some of the resources that can be used in building are:

Solar Power (Photovoltaics)

 With average 5 sun hours per day, solar Photovoltaics in Kathmandu can produce 5.5 to 6 Kwh/m²/day while in Germany (the world leader in solar panel) it can produce only 2 to 3 Kwh/ m²/day. The latitude of Kathmandu is 27^o40’38” N, which gives the highest solar altitude angle of 86^o in Summer and lowest solar altitude angle of 40 ^o in winter. Best thing to do is rotate the panel throughout the year so that the sun rays hit the panel perpendicularly, which is not always possible. So, when fixed in one position, the angle of solar panel is derived by calculating the mean value between winter and summer inclination angle. Since winter require more energy than summer and also the intensity of the sun is less in winter than summer, the panel is tilted by 10^o so that it can capture more of the winter sun. Hence, or Kathmandu, the value to the panel inclination is 37^o.

Solar Thermal

There are three passive solar techniques that the building can use to cool or heat the living space during summer and winter respectively with the use of the solar heat:

1)     Direct Gain System where sun heats the interior living space.

2)     Indirect Gain System where the heat is transferred to the interior living space by method of conduction.

3)     Isolated Gain System  where the heat is transferred to the interior living space by method of convection.

Solar shading:

The shading device should be of such length that it should block the high sun during the summer and allow the low sun during the winter. The length varies with the height of the window, distance between the window and shading device and the latitude of the site location. The relation is shown in the following figure:

Wind:

Average wind velocity in Kathmandu is 4.6 kmph which is not enough to drive the big turbines to produce the energy effectively. However there are many types of small wind turbines available in the city and currently used in few small buildings. Also the wind scoops can be utilized in Kathmandu that can catch the wind blowing high above the building and guide them down into the interiors.

Geothermal:

Earth Air Tunneling system can be the good choice for the heating or cooling of the building using the geothermal energy. In Pulchowk (site location), the temperature of the earth below 5m is measured to be 19°C and it remains constant throughout the year. 19°C is the temperature close to the average comfortable temperature for human body, so it can be used for cooling during the summer and heating during the winter.

Rain water harvesting system

Rain water harvesting system can be applied to the building, as the city suffers with the water crisis. With the average max rainfall 207.1mm, many water issues can be solved by proper use of the system. Rain water harvesting system needs the capture area to collect the water, conveyance system (pipes and ducts) to transfer the water and storage system to store the water. Depending on the purpose of the use, different types of treatment system can be used to make the water potable. Size of the catchment area is based on the footprint of the roof (in plan). Amount of water collected is given by:

Harvested Water =  Catchment  x  Rainfall depth x 0.623

(Gallon) (Sq. Ft) (Inch) (Conversion factor)

Skate Break: Art and Architecture

By Ryan Northcutt

When you think about art and architecture together, usually the first first thing that comes to mind are museums. As this is most common to think about these two subjects linked together, there are a few other ways that art and architecture are tied together. Both of these topics are very interesting in a non traditional sense as far as architecture goes. Much of architecture is very technical and is more of a strict design process that doesn't happen as often within the realm of art. But this is where there is a similarity. In fact, there are many architects out there who create art, and really this starts to dive deeply into theoretical architecture. I am not here to start talking about that, but I am arguing the case that art is very broad and doesnt really have any rules, but maybe it does? Either way these architects bring a hybrid art piece to the table. Much of the art pieces by architects are more of stylized technical renderings that express many qualities of architecture. Coming from this background of technical processes allows for a different thinking, but in the end after all the process, the finished piece is about a specific expression that was intended, which triggers thought and emotion by the viewer. If you look on a grand scale of architecture, we really dont notice that many buildings are expressions of art. The architect designs their building to become a form of expression and there are many ways that can go to trigger the emotions and thoughts of the view/user.

Now I cant speak for many people, but by this logic? where do you draw the line between art and architecture. In many ways some artist do what architects do, just in a more unorthodox way. So really we can call this grey area of people designers. But even in this grey area is a fine line between freedom and technicalities, which in the end divided architects and artist.

As I continue my thesis, I have talked to an artist about the architecture side of art. This has helped me understand artist and art, but in fact I really have learned that they arnt much different than use. For the most part, they are weird theoretical thinkers and speakers standing in the crowd saying things that no one person understands. This artist though has a history of dealing with spaces, as most artist do. This is an interesting concept because architects deal with space as well. As I talked to this artist, he described how he used to design spaces to his own needs, which is definitely against a lot of codes and other city ordinances. But in the end this space turned into a real life dream that captures emotions and provokes thought.

All in all I still cant divide art and architecture into two separate categories. There are many similarities that make them what they are. But with the differences they make them unique and different in many understandings. To leave one last thought, next time you visit a museum, think about who this space is for and who it was designed by, and really why the way it is.

Review Week

By:  Ethan Brammeier

The time has finally come for our first review of the semester.  After doing months of research, I am quite content with the work I’ve created so far.  Although my thesis is far from done, I think I’m at a great starting point to move into the design phase of the project.  Throughout the rest of this blog I will share some of the research I’ve done on Assisted Living Facilities.

The first part of research I conducted was case studies.  Since my chosen site is in Nashville, Illinois, I wanted to study other assisted living facilities in Southern Illinois.  Out of the several I researched, there was one I had the opportunity to visit.  I was given a tour of Prairie Living Villa’s in Carbondale by Gary Hill several weeks ago.  Visiting this facility gave me a greater understanding of how an Assisted Living Facility should function.  I was shown every room in the facility which helped me in producing a building program of my own.  It was easy to see the relationships between the rooms seeing them first-hand.  Since I was there during the day, I also got to see how the residents lived in the environment.  Realizing the benefit of actually visiting a facility makes me want to visit several more during the semester. 

Since my thesis focuses on designing a Gold LEED Certified Assisted Living Facility, I’ve started to research the requirements and types of materials to use.  Designing a Gold LEED Certified Assisted Living Facility that will increase the quality of the building while staying within a close budget on a non-LEED facility will be hard to come by.  That’s why I am going to focus on the use of materials and systems in the building and worry less about the costs.  Many LEED certified buildings are designed for future savings.  Although they may cost more up front, they will end up saving more in the life-time of the building through clean energy and efficient systems.  

If you would like to see my entire presentation board; which includes a site analysis, site plan, site pictures, building program, case studies, materials, systems, and massing studies, click the link below.

http://www.ethan-brammeier.com/#!thesis/c20n0

Educational Facility Design Principles

By Anthony Michael

For my thesis I am researching how special design effects that users within the learning spaces. As I have been reading, I have started to come to several conclusions that I feel are necessary components to be utilized within a Middle school design.  Not all of these yet have to deal with how the space can influence people, yet I still feel that these principles I have developed so far can make a more influential design.

1.     Support Teaching and Learning create spaces of various sizes, shapes, and colors to help promote a variety of learning within various sized groups.

2.     Maximize collaboration in school planning and design.  This means including members of the community such as leaders, parents, business leaders, teachers, and maybe even some students.

3.     Plan for the school to be a neighborhood-scaled community learning center. This can help the school become a beacon to the community that helps provide an increasing amount of the involvement through the whole educational process.

4.     Consider the “HOME” as a design template for the learning environment.  Using homey materials and elements within an appropriate scale cam help provide comfortable learning spaces that help reduce anxiety and improve concentration.

5.     Peregrinate circulation while still providing supervision.  Doubling circulation spaces as active learning spaces can create positive socialization amongst students.  However creating small nodes that are optimally located in key areas helps maintain visual supervision without the feel of a typical institutional-like corridor.

6.     Cluster various instructional areas.  Flexible alcoves that are just off of the central resource spaces allow for educational programs to change and evolve around each individual student.  These smaller spaces can also lead to an increased use of learning materials, help increase substantive content questions, and fewer distracting conversations.

7.     Natural design features need to be maximized.  This includes maximum amounts of natural, full spectrum lighting.  Which leads to a great reduction in mental fatigue, and reduced hyperactivity that is commonly found in learners.  Natural ventilation, or increased amounts of fresh air into the interior of the learning spaces can help improve task performance, increase attention spans, and increase the overall comfort of those using the spaces.

8.     Outdoor learning environments, such as trails, gardens, forested area, and ponds allow for a variety of learning to occur outside of the traditional classroom.

9.     Keeping class sizes small leads to higher levels of performance compared to facilities that have large class sizes.  This smaller educator-learner ratio can increase performance in mathematics and reading by up to fifteen percent. 

As I continue on with my design proposal for a Middle school, these are just a few of the design principles that I will be taking into consideration.

Introduction of thesis

By Li Haoyang

Today I want to share with you guys about what I want to do with the research for the thesis.

Beijing have been the capital city of China for thousands years. It is the political and cultural center all the time. Beijing has the most density of population from ancient time until now. Especially this two decades economy increase rapidly, draw attention people from everyplace to here to get a better job. Make it more crowed then before. That leads to the compare of high density in downtown and low density in suburb. This is result the high cost of the house or apartment, bad traffic, and follow by the issues come from relationship between neighbors-they do not even know who is their neighbor. While the abnormal situation happened in downtown, the environment in suburb is looks normal, low population, low traffic, and low economy. By the government’s report shows that the rate of urbanization is 47%. A simple way to is to transfer people from downtown to live in suburb. It is not wisdom to mimic a new CBD in new site, a new life style should been built to design a friendly, welcome and easy work living environment.

Environmental pollution is the price of rapid economic development of China. Percentage of China’s land has faced the problems from air pollution. Beijing is one of the worst cities for pollution. Every morning, check the PM2.5 (short for particulate matter, particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) before they go out for work, must be done by the citizens in Beijing. The element in the haze will cause people to have cancer. Surgical mask have sold out several times. If this situation keeps going, Chinese will kill themselves.

A new building should also think about the development in the future. It is necessary to do a high-rise to return the land back to nature and green building to save the energy until a new type of energy come out. 

High-rise does not mean the height only, it will come a question that how to deal with the vertical and high-level circulation. The buildings have different use: some need easy for the transportation, some need the privacy. The environment should comfort to the residents, costumers and affiliated servicers.

The people who work and live in the buildings will use a huge amount of energy. Beijing still uses masses amount of traditional energy sources. The more energy used, the more pollution will be produce. By mimic the natural environment way, like ant nest, decrease the amount from using traditional energy source. Use more nature light during the daytime. Keep comfortable temperatures inside the building when outside temperatures are cold or hot. Combining the goals of Green building, choosing the appropriate material and design to make the high-rise buildings “breathe” in the city, cleaning the environment.

Urban Life With Nature (thesis update)

By Chase Master

                  In this blog 11 I wanted to give an update on my thesis and talk about something important to me.  We are having presentations on our thesis and thought this would be a good opportunity to share with everyone.  My thesis is called Urban Life With Nature.  The thesis is essentially trying to improve the way buildings are designed and used in cities.  I am doing this with the design of a high-rise mix used building (commercial, residential) located in Chicago that would try to clean pollution as well as not add any additional pollution.

                  This thesis is important because the human population is increasing and there is an Urban migration that is causing cities to grow larger and larger.  This alone causes many problems with the transformation of nature to an urban environment.  Pollution of the air through the use of burning fossil fuels and the lack of vegetation help solve the issue causes smog in many cities.  The hard surfaces from buildings, roads, and sidewalks create an issue with water runoff that then pollutes rivers and lakes surrounding the city.  These surfaces also stop the water from being absorbed back into the ground to replenish the ground water that we are utilizing for everyday life.  These problems are creating numbers of different health issues that could be avoided if we change the way we design our buildings.

                  There are many buildings already trying to change the notion of what a typical building is supposed to service.  If we design a building for people to live in we should also think about the people’s needs to survive, and promote good health as well as comfort ability needs to want to live in that building.  One easy way to achieve this is to design in relation to nature as it will not only bring a sense of happiness to the residents, but however it will also clean the air and purify water for the residents and also help cut down on annual building cost.  In the design process utilizing the site, wind, and sun can increase energy efficiency as well as comfort of living or work performance.  Then bringing in atriums with green walls or vegetation in the building will improve the air quality of the building, as well as means for natural ventilation to cut cooling cost.  These atriums also create enjoyment and beauty for the occupants.  The vegetation in theses atriums can also be utilized as some stages for a black water system that can convert waste water into portable water; this recycling of water in the building will cut down or eliminate the water cost from the city.  Collecting rain water can be also used for additional water needs as well as being utilized in the vegetation inside and outside the building.  Capturing rain water and adding vegetation on the site will eliminate water runoff that can pollute nearby bodies of water.  This can be done with creating small parks on site that will promote the building and increase visitors.  The park can incorporate any nearby bodies of water to create a nice connection to the site and its surroundings as well as a filter for the river.  All these things with added designs for energy efficiencies and energy creating methods like wind turbines, photovoltaics, geothermal, and other methods will change the way a building functions to not only serve as shelter, but also meet the needs and health of its occupancies as well as promote the building’s surrounding and environment.