environmental design 101 primer fall 2015
DESCRIPTION
This small portfolio outlines the principles of design and the works for a rising architecture student in the hopes that one day he'll become a legend.TRANSCRIPT
EDES 101 PrimerAlexander Gama
Fall 2014
Ale
x G
ama, Tijuana. MX. M
ahi Mahi Fish, Soccer, Piano, Guitar, Harmonica
, Sho
w M
ust Go On - Q
ueen, Poetry,
C
omp
osi
tio
n, P
ercu
ssion, Cello
, Parkou
r, Bass, Travel, Ten
nis, C
amp
ing, Surfing, and Archite
ctur
e.
Alex started his life with a gasp, due to him almost asphyxiating while being born. He remembers vividly his child-hood in Tijuana and San Diego, spend-ing most of his day with his grandpa, who was a pivotal part in his develop-ment to the person he is now. Poetry, writing, design, and especially music, were all hobbies his grandpa enjoyed which he inherited. Through high school, his background made him one of the best musicians in the school’s SCPA. Currently, Alex is pursuing his childhood dream of becoming an architect at Cal Poly SLO but continues with music, singing, and composition.
My current special place in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is the piano in Sequoia’s TV lounge. I have met some really amazing people whom I have bonded through our love of music. I also am here when I feel frustrated mostly because music really relaxes me and helps me plan out my approach towards anything.
Alex GamaTeam Members: Gabriella, Eleanor, Kord
Trek to the ArchitectsDiscordant Space
We felt that this space was discordant due to the lack of harmony and competition that fills this room. Here, everyone is on their own sched-ule, and those who are together are compet-ing against each other over the pool table or rooting for different teams when the game is on. Whenever someone steps in here they can see a person making a quiet cup of tea, watching the game, getting serious over table tennis, or doing last minute homework.
A
Prospective Space
This space is a proper representation of prospecting because there is no limit to what is created in this space. It is here that ideas are shared and expanded and people realize how much they can create. This space changes molds our view of the world and changes the way that we think.
B
Intimate SpaceThis space is intimate since it is only meant to accommo-date two people. Here stories are shared between friends, days are reminisced, and it seems that there are always new things to learn about the people you thought you knew most about.
C
Small Gathering
We felt that this space was a great example of a small gather-ing space since it’s a place where people who do not always know each other gather for the same purpose. It’s amazing how we all can have our own schedules and yet there is a time where our plans and the plans of others overlap.
Team Members: Alex Gama, Chelzea Furtado, Hailey Rose, Jennifer Li, Tanya Wohlfarth
AB CD
D
PROJECT FIVE-‐ THINK: CAMPUS THE TEAM: FERNANDO ASTIAZARAN, ALEX GAMA, TYLER HALL, KORD MCKINNEY, and JAMES BLANCHARD
OUR SITE: THE CEMENT YARD
A. Considering the fact that this space is already being used as a major site for all structural studio work and as a demonstration area, it isn’t too far-‐fetched to imagine this space as its own studio. The best way to go about turning this space into a
studio would be to first close off the area a little more, turning it into a two-‐story structure connected to the ARCE building. From there, I think it would be interesting to make this the largest and most open studio. I imagine this space to have many windows to let as much light in as possible. I also imagine this space to be used by all ARCE majors as they learn about the properties of structure and the principles of design. B. This space is already connected to the shop and is run by many of the same people who operate the woodshop. However, I think that this space could still use a complete overhaul and could be a wonderful collaborative space focused on learning by doing. I also believe that the addition of a small medical center would be extremely beneficial to all involved in the concrete yard. To expand the shop, many woodworking tools would be installed in the area such as table saws and sanders. However, this space would still be used to teach students how to work with concrete. I would also implement more convenient road travel in the occurrence that an ambulance needs to reach this site.
C. The new office for sustainability juts out of the concrete yard by three stories. The main entrance welcoming students through the transparent windowpanes. The light shines bright through the many solar panels of the new offices. The steel frames holding the structure, covered in early morning fog and glistening in the afternoon sun with the window frames. The small hum of the fans can
be heard, echoing throughout the main desk’s vents. Aluminum stairs spiral upward clinging from the clear elevator shaft while the hand railing is sustained by strings. The twisted rectangular prism design of the building being supplied with solar energy, and the ceiling’s gardens purifying the air in the building attracts those interested in sustainability. Students rush in, telephones ringing with conversations overlapping each other. D. The concrete yard can hold many new majors, but one possibility is “Construction Methods and Materials”. This major combines architectural engineering, construction management, and materials engineering. This new major will draw in students who want to work with the materials and methods that go into building structures along with the design of these materials. This new department will be housed in the buildings surrounding the concrete yard and will be beautiful to look at. This view will draw in pedestrians, thus peaking their curiosity. As a result, they will come in and view the projects that students are working on.
E. Faculty Office In regard to placement, this would work well for faculty offices. It is surrounded by the CAED building, the CE building and the Business building, which each have classrooms. Teachers could have offices close to their classrooms, and students would be able to stop by their teachers’ offices for office hours after class. In terms of the space, I think the space could be turned into offices, with some in the building on the side, and then additional units could be constructed in the space, with an area in the corner quarter circle platform for chairs and tables for students to study.
F. This spot is ideally placed for the office of the Dean of the College of Engineering. It is in the back of all the engineering classrooms. I don’t it work as any other Dean’s office. The quarter circle platform could serve as a spot for a secretary, while the upper right section could be built into the actual office, with chairs to sit in while waiting in a line outside the door. People could also walk through to go up the stairs or into the rooms on the left wall (in the diagram).
H. A coffee shop is a phenomenal idea to assist those in the College of Architecture and Design. The concrete yard is close to the Construction Innovations Center, but relatively far from the architecture building. This location also seems to have a fairly large size for a ‘normal’ coffee shop [not a bad thing]. A coffee shop with no roof is a unique idea, but its size and proximity to the arch. building are the two aspects that are in great need of consideration. G. The space itself is a great is a great place for a gallery. It is spacious, and if the weather is cool in the day/evening, it makes for a marvelous setting. However, the pavement is uneven in some areas. Another feature of the concrete yard that makes it a great destination for a gallery is the staircase. If one walks to the top of the stairs and examines the ‘gallery,’ he/she would have a perfect view of all the presentations/pieces. The location is not at its utmost, nevertheless; great proximity to the architecture building and renovation would increase its chances of being an optimal location for a gallery.
THINK:FUNCTIONTeam: Tyler Hall [not pictured], James Blanchard, Alex Gama, Kord McKinney, Fernando AstiazaranMentor: Alex Buckthal
Tyler - ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO Fernando - LE LOUVRE James - ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO Alex - SAN FRANCISCO MUSEM OF MODERN ART Kord - THE GETTY
http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/art_gallery_of_ontario.html
This building is eye catching and large, with excellent lighting at night, which invites people in. It works well as a space to present art, and it’s large and open which makes you feel more comfortable when walking through. It functions very well as a gallery.
PATTERN: PROXIMITY TO RECREATIONAL EATING/SHOPPING
Galleries need to be more in the thick of things, they don’t work well when they’re off by them-selves. They function best on relatively busy streets adjacent to restaurants, coffee shops, and small non-chain stores (espe-cially artsy ones). Also, smaller galleries work well when they are next to other smaller galler-ies.
http://www.artic.edu/learn/families
My hope for the concrete yard gallery is to give students a place to appreciate professional work. The concrete yard gallery is a space that will attract pro-fessional artists from all walks of life, welcoming their exhibitions with open arms. These exhibitions will inspire all students in the CAED program to explore new possibilities and will give all other students a place to expand their mind. I know that whenever my mother took me to the Art Institute of Chicago, I left feeling very intellectual and sophisticated. The concrete yard gallery will be a fresh breath of air for students that spend their days in dark architecture studios.
PATTERN: CONCRETE YARD PROFESSIONAL GALLERY
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/museum-gal-
The building itself is a ‘work of art,’ perfect for a gallery. The program that this structure serves is closer to a museum [with galleries inside]. Indubitably, this is an ‘imageable’ space; its aesthetic appeal draws in tourists and local resi-dents. Also, its unique form also helps it stand out from local
PATTERN: DISPLAY VIA LIGHTING PATTERN: INDOOR/OUTDOOR FEATURESPATTERN: OUTSIDE LIVING AND WORK SPACE
The principles of design needed to establish a pattern, especially the pattern of a gallery, are light, blank space, peaceful atmosphere, and room for people to move freely. The light in a gallery is primarily used to highlight the work being pre-sented, immediately creating several focal points for the observer. These focal points take away from all other distractions of the world, leaving only the observ-er and the work. The blank space in a gallery is pivotal for the work to be pre-sented, as the space in-between the work gives the observer a chance to reflect and isolate their focus. The peaceful atmosphere of galleries also assist in creating a sense of isolated focus and introspection. The room for people to move freely gives the observer a chance to find what they appreciate the most and flock to it. If a gallery is missing any of these aspects, the atmosphere will fall apart and the work displayed will not be featured properly.
Being adjacent to ‘imageable’ spaces is one key factor for a successful and memorable gal-lery location. However, a vital aspect of galleries themselves is the inclusion of both indoor and outdoor features [or more than one area for one gallery]. During Parents Weekend at Cal Poly, the architecture department hosted a display of students’ work in the Architec-ture Building. The ‘main’ event was in the Berg gallery, but some students’ work was hung on a piece of thick twine that connected two walls within the building. There were also pieces of fabric hanging from a ceiling for the parents and spectators to see.
http://www.getty.edu
The Getty Museum provides a place for the public to come and enjoy the fine art that has been provided to them by fellow citizens. It gives them a chance to view and appreciate the different forms of art ranging from classical to modern. Along with having great sculptures and painting, the Getty provides architects and landscape architects the chance to showcase their work to the public. This wide variety of art provides the people with serenity and the appreciation of the skill and time put into each individual piece.
Outdoor living and working spaces intertwine the protection of the indoors with the comfort of nature. By providing an escape to the outdoors, you give people the chance to take a moment and appreciate the environment and nature that surrounds the building that they are in. You also give them an area to focus on different studies and provide them a chance to have a quiet, individual, learning experience. Outdoor living spaces should always be added into any given architectural design because people need and want the freedom of the outdoors just feet away from them.
SUMMARY:
At first, we concluded that the concrete yard was an optimal space for a gallery, but its location was not its best. We believed the it would serve best as a gallery if it were closer to the architecture building. However, there are several galleries [Berg and KGTY, along with galler-ies in the library] near Building 05, so one closer to the Construction Innovations Center is a perfect location. The stairwell in this yard makes for a great view of the whole area, and its open roof contributes to an atmosphere ideal for a gallery. On the contrary, it has uneven pavement in some areas, which could cause difficulties regarding dis-play.
Something that inspires me from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is that it is very spacious and the natural lighting let you focus on what is being exhibited. The museum is very aesthetic and plain which make the sculptures, paintings, designs, and other exhibits stand out. Also, the patterns shown throughout the museum are the same ones shown in others and the fact that the overall theme is dictated by the expo-sition creates a fluid and smooth transition in the gallery.
sfmoma.org
The bustling gallery with many dialogues being interchanged, create chaotic environment that take away from the immersing experience. I think a more quiet setting for the gallery would create a more peace-ful surrounding allowing you to analyze and appreciate what is being shown in the exposition. The lights are also not focused on making the exposition stand out but more focused on lighting the room as a whole.
INSIGHT:
Galleries should be very open spaces. The open atmosphere of a gal-lery should inspire intelligent conversation and breed creativity. Galleries should also be a space to present work. Many galleries, however, do not complement the work being presented. In this sense, the lighting in galleries needs to be very adaptable and malleable so that the work presented is the focus no matter what. Also, for whatever reason, light hardwood floors seem to be standard for gal-leries.
Alexander Gama//Buckthall//Week 7// Page 1//
This piece caught my eye at the gallery because although it seems very bulky, it is a very porta(l)ble piece of furniture. It folds into something small that can fit in the sliver between a wall and a chiffonier. The main material used in this exposition is wood, connected with a lot of hing-es and a piece of cloth making the chair very comfrotable while sitting down. The circular cuts into the design made the wood stand out mostly because it gained some aerodynamic as well as emphasis on the project as a whole. The way the chair carried my weight was fine the only complain I would have would be that in order to actually sit, I would have to crouch a good 3/4 of the way before I actually hit the seat so my legs felt a bit off until I could stretch them out.
Alexander Gama//Porcelain Steel//www.architecturalmaterials.com//Porcelain Industries//
Porcelain Steel is very sturdy and it’s nice finishing touch for the edges of the sturctures introducing the theme of art is very polished until the desired tecture is reached. The manu-facturer says “Porcelain enamel on steel is a cost-effective way to create long-lasting surfaces that will not oxidize or fade under high temperature or harsh weather conditions. Porcelain is often used to enhance the mechanical properties of steel substrates, especially low carbon steel, often exceeding the performance of more expensive metal substrates.” This would give the gallery a nice finish round the areas where the sun would be hitting the most to avoid sun ray damage to the building and keep the aesthetic for a long lasting period.
Alexander Gama//Milled Aluminum//www.architecturalmaterials.com//Pendarvis Manufacturing//
Milled Aluminum has a nice finihed texture to it and it’s very aesthetic to the eye so that’s something that would look nice as an outside design or skin. The manufactor says “Mill Finish” is the natural appearance of the aluminum as it comes from the rolling mill (Alcoa, Reynolds, Kaiser, or Alcan) or the extrusion mill. It is “as is” with no external mechanical or chemical finishing. Extruded metal is considered mill finish.” The rough exterior would pro-vide a sense of authenticity to the gallery and a theme of what it’s about (as in authertic art, made rough in the concrete yard.
Alexander Gama//Anodized Aluminum//www.architecturalmaterials.com//Sierra Aluminum//
Anodized aluminum attracts me as a great bone material because it is very aerodynamic as well as sturdy. The manufacturer says “Anodized aluminum can replace expensive stainless steel in many applications, offering immediate savings in material and transportation costs, as well as in the future, due to the long-lasting durability, reduced weight, and additional properties unique to anodized products.” I think this would benefit our site nicely when building the structure since a gallery is constantly being reorganized it would allow for the structure to sustain for a long period of time.
EDES WEEK 8 :. PLAY IT IN DOUBLE TIME
PORCELAIN STEELAlexander Gama
MATERIALS: - Porcelain enamel - SteelCOST: - $ 98.86 per 1 tileTile Size: - 60 x 60 cm = 24’’ x 24’’Process: - To make, powdered glass is fused to a substrate or metal usually between 1,380 and 1,560 degrees fahrenherit. The powder melts, flows, and then hardens to a smooth, durable vit-reous coating on the metal, in case, steel.Installing: - Same type of install as tile or any other stone flooring.Weight/Thinkness/Amount in Pack - 24kg = 52.9lbs - 8mm = 5/16’’ - 3 slates per pack
This last quarter has been an interesting and quite eye opening with starting college, living on-campus, and beginning to experience studio and thes rest of
my major classes. I think throughout the progression of each project, I’ve understood what I need to
be doing and what I was going to get out it. I also think I learned alot from my mistakes in studio and used those learning experiences on some of these
projects. I really hope to accomplish more in the next quarters to come even if it is grueling work. Before, I used to be interested in architecture, but now, I’m
really becoming involved and way more excited about the future projects to come.
Final Statement of the Quarter