From the Table to Life

From the Table to Life

By: Van Dwinnells

When we design we are given many programmatic conditions that we must adhere to, design for and around, and we do so in a creative way.  One of the joys of our architecture schooling is that we are often time not even burdened with the realistic ramifications of our projects pre and post occupancy; thing such as budgets and real life evaluations of efficiency and overall use rarely if ever creep into our curriculum.  In urban design we begin to think of how social spaces are formed throughout a community, but it impossible to ever fully know what will and won't work in a given situation.  We do precedent studies of similar places, contextual situations, and cultures, but this is no guarantee our designs will be utilized and incorporated into the community's urban fabric.  The fact that we make such grand proposals reinforces this reality and perpetuates a specific need; one, that in order to produce a design that can be built, we must harness not disregard the political and economic processes.  In order to gain such approval, functions and fundraisers should be organized in the attempt to amass funds and rally community support.  Paying close attention to the people, their needs and desires, and subsequently responding to them in a timely and conscious manner will undoubtedly allow our plans to gain traction.  It seems as if there is gap from our design process from the finalization of a design project to its implementation.  We as architects have a great understanding of the needs of the community and those of the investors.  With that knowledge we should also be considering a way to market our designs.  Who better to provide a platform to springboard a project and get it off the ground?  We should focus on creating awareness and the need for our projects.  To me it would seem only appropriate to also have a class within our program, most likely incorporated as an elective for our graduate program.  A class that would enable us to focus and further develop how we could take our projects and professionally present them to a community so as to one day move it from the drawing boards to a real project.  

Little Rock

Trip to Little Rock

By: Sam Harshman

The Wife and I went to Little Rock/North Little Rock this past weekend (3/8/13-3/11/13.)  The point of the trip was to meet with Little Rocks Bicycle/Pedestrian Director, Jeremy Lewno.  We met at his bike center, Bobby’s Bike Hike, to talk about my thesis project.  I came to the meeting with questions and concerns that I had come up with through my research.  Mr. Lewno answered all of my questions and even brought up more questions.  The major questions answered were about the site that I have chosen.  The site that I have chosen runs through the property of the national headquarters of Dillards and also through the property of an Episcopal school.  The project at hand is actually funded at the moment, but the issue is that Dillards and the Episcopal school don’t want to give up their land.  They don’t see the value in having a bike trail run near their property’s, they also think that the trail would bring “unsightly” people to the area.  Part of my thesis now is to try to persuade the people at Dillards and the Episcopal school, that the bike trail will not bring what they think it will, but does the opposite and bring more customers/ allow students to get to school without driving and other related things.  On top of this, Mr. Lewno taught me that if you build the transportation first, then you can develop the rest: commuter station, more bike shops, and parks.  Next to the persuading, my thesis has also become a phasing plan.

1. Connect the housing communities with the bike trail.

2. Develop a specific trail to finish the loop.

3. Develop a central commuter station in Little Rock.

4. Plan out riverside parks along the new section of bike trail (phase 2)

5. Redevelop a warehouse into a boardwalk with a bike center along the new section of trail.

Markets

Trending Markets

By: Megan Gebke

My thesis will include a marketing plan for my site. It will include all the new features I am going to propose and how it will better the neighborhood. By marketing the site, it will attract people to a neighborhood they thought was vacant and dangerous. This week in my marketing class we went over innovations of a product and if people will flock to it or avoid the trend.

The trend list topic I chose was the Localizasian. For one, the name is clever and explains exactly what they want to do, which is make products in Asia, for Asia. Brands across Asia are producing more best-in-class products and services. They try to produce products that will tailor to specific needs made by regional brands that really understand their lifestyle. When a product is made by the people who have the same customs and culture as you, you feel more connected to the product because the supplier knows exactly where you are coming from. You feel more comfortable buying something that was made locally rather than from thousands of miles away with nothing in common with the people producing the product. The webpage stated, “All this attention and subsequent choice means Asian consumers can, are, and will continue to become more demanding: seeking out best-in-class products and services that cater explicitly to their needs, wants and desires.” They are listening to the consumer’s wants and needs and then making products that caters to those wants and needs. “Whether as a result of shared values, operational experience in fast-growth economies, or a natural affinity for local nuances, Asian brands and businesses simply ‘get’ Asian consumers- their mindset, wants and needs – in ways that outside brands sometimes still struggle to.” By having the same customs, they can be sensitive to certain beliefs they know are important to the Asian people. One example of this includes the adaptation of the beer called Tsingtao. Tsingtao changed their beer bottle for Chengdu consumers. The new bottle is larger, holding two or three pints, which allows for the beer to be poured into small cups and shared over Sichuan food. This ritual mimics the traditional way that baijiu is communally drunk. Asians have certain customs and beliefs that no one in America could fully understand and vice versa. When you keep a brand local and suit it to those needs, you have a better understanding of what the consumer really wants, which in retrospect will help sell more products.

I think that customers will flock to this new trend. Everyone is proud of where they come from and buying products that are made near you, by hardworking people just like you, gives a customer a greater sense of patriotism. Localizasian allows for suppliers to develop products that are accustomed to Asian people’s wants and needs. They do not have to do diligent outside research to understand the cultures and beliefs; they just know them because they live them every day. I think this will be a trend for Asia; I do not, however, think that Localizasian will travel further from Asia, even if it was meant to at all. I do think that other countries or regions should pick up on what Asia is doing and develop something similar to it. Coming from an architectural background, it is also sustainable to develop products locally and allows a chance for the economy to make a comeback by giving more opportunities.

Vertical Garden

Vertical Garden at 6 Battery Road, Singapore by Patrick Blanc

By: Lucas E. Shubert

Brief Description

This vertical garden, title "Rainforest Rhapsody," is the focus of a $92 million renovation at Capitaland Commercial, in Singapore (Capitaland Commercial 2013). It is 2,000 square feet and includes approximately locally grown 120 plant species (Capitaland Commercial 2013). It is a part of a larger project involving several kinds of sustainable practices, like reused materials and LED's (Capitaland Commercial 2013).

Landscape Performance Benefits

· Environmental The environmental benefits of this type of project depend on its size and location. Unlike permeable pavers and rain gardens, interior vertical gardens do not reduce storm water runoff. They do, however, clean the air around them.

· Aesthetic This vertical garden adds a great deal of natural beauty to the lobby, both with the simplicity of native vegetation and the complexity of the design of their placement.

· Functional No signs of leaking water have been reported. Therefore, the garden must be functioning as intended.

· Social The garden creates a wonderful space for social gathering.

· Educational Vertical gardens have the potential for teaching about the plant species found within it.

· Economical Since aesthetic appeal is a large portion of vertical gardens, it's difficult to rate them economically. They can be created for a relatively small amount of money.

However, this one was much more expensive because it involved a world famous designer (Capitaland Commercial 2013).

· Psychological Vertical gardens are intended to have a calming effect.

Project Evaluation

This project is now two years old and is still very beautiful, which means that it must be performing as intended by helping to clean the air of the lobby of 6 Battery Road. It is a very successful project because it completely changed the space it is in for the better. Another reason these vertical gardens are usually a good idea for interior spaces is because they are relatively low maintenance.

References

Vertical Garden Patrick Blanc. 2013. “Capitaland.” Accessed March 1. verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/realisations/singapore/capitaland-6-battery-road-singapore.

Capitaland Commercial. 2013. "Singapore." Accessed March 1. capitalandcommercial.com/sg6BR.html.

PUT THESE UNDER THE FIGURES

Fig

Spatial Relationships

ADHD Research and Spatial Relationships

By: Kyle Miller

Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders and recent data indicates that up to 8-10% of school age children meet the necessary criteria for a diagnosis. The criteria are listed below:

According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition (DSM-IV), the essential features of Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder are:

Criterion A-E

A. Persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development.
B. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that cause impairment must have been present before age 7 years, although many individuals are diagnosed after the symptoms must be present for a number of years.
C. Some impairment from the symptoms must be present in at least two settings (e.g., at home and at school or work).
D. There must be clear evidence of interference with developmentally appropriate social, academic, or occupational functioning.
E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorders and is not better accounted for by another mental disorder.

There are Three Subtypes of ADHD:
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Combined Type:

This subtype should be used if six (or more) symptoms of inattention and six (or more) symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have persisted for at least six months.

Predominantly Inattentive Type:

This subtype is used if six (or more) symptoms of inattention (but fewer than six symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity) have persisted for at least six months.

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type:

This subtype should be used if six (or more) symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity (but fewer than six of inattention) have persisted for at least six months.

Symptoms:

Home

            -Difficulty following morning routines

            -Increase in frequency of arguments with parents and siblings

            -Difficulty completing homework and daily chores

            -Messy/disorganized room

School

            -Difficulty remaining seated in class

            -Difficulty completing work in a timely fashion

            -Difficulty organizing materials

Social

            -Difficulty regulating behavior on the playground

            -Trouble interacting with peers

            -Difficulty waiting turns during games

Treatment:

            -Focus is on teaching the child

-Behavioral regulations strategies to improve the frequency and duration of positive, on-task behaviors.

            -Establish a reinforcement schedule

            -Modify the environment to focus on the child’s strengths and areas of concern

The Ideal Classroom for an ADHD Classroom

1. No more than 8 children (preferably 5-6) not all of whom are ADHD (some may have learning disabilities, speech and language impairments or other behavior problems)

2. One trained ADHD teacher

3. One trained aide with another available as needed

4. Four walls and one door

5. Extensive soundproofing

6. Windows placed above height of tallest child

7. Lines on the floor creating traffic lanes through the classroom (and through the rest of the school building)

8. Walls relatively replete with posters outlining the rules and extolling the virtues of planning ahead, feeling good about oneself, and socializing. Nothing stimulating but not barren or sterile either

9. Bathroom at back of classroom

10. Daily schedule in bold letters on the board

11. Desks not too close together, yet positioned in such a way that teacher an maintain close proximity to each student.

12. An attention trainer on every desk

13. A jar of tokens on the teacher’s desk an a menu of possible prizes on the wall

14. A time-out room connected to classroom

15. Computer for every child located in separate section of the class

16. Observation room with one-way mirror so children can be observed by parents, staff, and outside professionals without disrupting the class. Observation room could also double as a “1 to 1” area for special instructions

17. A common area where children and teachers can sit and discuss group issues and feelings

18. Incandescent lighting

Typography 101

Typography 101

By: Josh Rucinski

One of the biggest complaints I hear from my graphic designer (my wife!) is the lack of typography know-how in architectural pin-ups. Here are some of the easiest to avoid mistakes.

Use one typeface or font, two maximum. Typefaces should be used carefully on a large layout. Avoid using many different sizes, it is confusing to the reader. Just as studies show red is a color that produces certain emotions, there are studies that prove some type is hard to read. Using different sizes is hard to read. USING ALL CAPS IS ALSO HARD TO READ. Using upper and lowercase caps as the written language should be written is easier to read.

If you are using one typeface, serif fonts are actually better designed than most san-serif fonts. The typeface Times New Roman has many years of careful typesetting behind it. Monaco is not. Notice how the font is continually looking as though it is being stretched or pushed together. Reading the font is not as pleasing.

Another pratfall that is common is “bastardizing” the text.  This is when text is forced to be bolded when there is no actual bolding loaded into the computer. A way to check is to see if you have a full family font loaded. This might look like this:

Myriad Pro

Myriad Pro Light

Myriad Pro Bold

Myriad Pro Italic

Myriad Pro Black

instead of simply:

Myriad Pro

This is important, because this means a designer has tweaked the font's stroke, bowls, descenders and ascenders to read as clearly as possible from the spacing between the letters (kerning) and the relationship between an italic, bold and roman on the same line. It is not important to learn what all these terms mean, the basic upshot is this: If you use a full family versus the bastardization of one font, it will read better. One of the reasons Adobe products are expensive is that they come with a license of certain fonts for your computer. A computer with Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator will have better font choices then a computer without those programs. 

Another form of bastardization is stretching the text using a percentage creating a WordArt effect. This should be avoided at all cost as the result is almost always read as amateurish at best, and a complete lack of care for a project at worst.

There is also a rule of thumb for how big fonts should be printed. 72 point font is never a good idea. 72 points equal an inch. At that point the fonts will begin to disincorporate and special attention must be paid to kerning. Leading, or the space between the lines must also be examined. Even a 48x36 poster should use a 24pt or smaller text. The idea is to draw people into your work. Shouting with a large font will turn people away.

I hope that this will help students with their work. Typeface is very crucial to a good design layout. An excellent book that is accessible to readers is “A type primer” by John Kane. It explains the development of typography and why these small things add up to big impressions.

Thesis Update

Thesis Update – Spring 2013

By: Jonathan Smith

This blog post will consist of a research proposal for a paper I am writing in my Geography – Sustainable Development class. This paper will be the foundation for the writing on my thesis paper a well. Following the research proposal is a preliminary outline of the paper to come.                                                                                                    

Research Question Proposal:

How can the east coast of the United States develop its coastal regions to manage rising sea levels in the coming future?

·        I am currently working on a thesis project in architecture that deals very closely with the question proposed above. I have been researching the relations between architecture and water for quite some time, and after reading the articles from the previous assignment, I wanted to focus on the Eastern United States.

Methods and Research:

This question will be answered by researching a variety of techniques used for sustainable development in coastal regions across the world. This research will include case studies of both successful and unsuccessful proposals to flooding problems. These solutions will then be narrowed down to what is most suitable for the focus area. Other data such as GIS maps, climactic information, and professional journals will be used in order to help make this selection. The answer outlined in the paper will most likely be a model of how the Eastern United States can begin to develop sooner rather than a model for the future.

Preliminary Outline:

I.                    Assessing the Issue

A.      Global Warming and the Causes

1.Global Warming Brief / Misconceptions

2.Global Warming Prevention / Responses

B.      Problem Areas of Eastern United States

1.New York Area

2.Norfolk, Virginia

3.North Carolina Coast

C.      Future Damage Potential

1.50 Year Scenario

2.100 Year Scenario

3.Long Term Future Scenario

II.                  Current Development of East Coast

A.      Prior Solutions / Preparation

1.Ignoring the Issue

2.Area Abandonment

3.Temporary Fixes

B.      Learning By Disaster

1.Hurricane Sandy

2.Hurricane Irene

3.Hurricane Isabel

III.                Case Studies / Method Analysis

A.      Netherlands / Dutch

1.A History of Water

2.Preemptive Action

3.Long Term Development Goals

B.      Great Britain

C.      Miscellaneous Projects

1.Iba Dock – Germany

2.BIG Architects (DK)

3.(MORE TO BE ADDED)

D.     Learning From Notable “Failures”

IV.                Analyzing a Solution for the Area

A.      Coastal Culture of East Coast

B.      Community Outlook / Response

1.Disbelievers and Skeptics

2.Realists and Planners

3.A Communities Reaction to Disaster

C.      Design Solution Criteria

1.How should the design solution fit the Eastern United States?

2.How can different solutions impact the land and resources?

3.What are the social impacts of the possible solutions available?

V.                  An Architectural Solution

A.      Design Solution Explanation

1.Concept Statement

2.Site Analysis

3.Development Diagrams / Drawings

B.      Future Development Possibilities

C.      Implementing the Model Elsewhere

VI.                Conclusion

A.      Closing Thoughts

B.      Acknowledgements

Preliminary Sources:

Schuetze, Christopher. "How Cities Plan to Keep the Sea at Bay in an Age of Climate Change." New York Times. 05 NOV 2012: n. Web. 28 Jan. 2013. <http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/how-cities-plan-to-keep-the-sea-at-bay-in-an-age-of-climate-change/>.

Stive, Marcel, Louise Fresco, Kabat Pavel, Parmet Bart, and Veerman Cees. "How the Dutch plan to stay dry over the next Century." ICE-Civil Engineering. 164. (2011): 114-212. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.

Schuetze, Christopher. "How Cities Plan to Keep the Sea at Bay in an Age of Climate Change." New York Times. 05 NOV 2012: n. Web. 28 Jan. 2013. <http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/how-cities-plan-to-keep-the-sea-at-bay-in-an-age-of-climate-change/>.

Stive, Marcel, Louise Fresco, Kabat Pavel, Parmet Bart, and Veerman Cees. "How the Dutch plan to stay dry over the next Century." ICE-Civil Engineering. 164. (2011): 114-212. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.

Janin, H., & Mandia, S. A. (2012). Rising sea levels: An introduction to cause and impact. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.

Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., & Kang, J. E. (2011). Rising waters: The causes and consequences of flooding in the united states. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Wilson, E., & Piper, J. (2010). Spatial planning and climate change. New York, New York: Routledge.

Pilkey, O. H., & Young, R. (2009). The rising sea. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.

Ames, D. V., Culver, S. J., & Mallinson, D. J. (2011). The battle for north carolina's coast. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: The University of North Carolina Press