Learning Portfolio

Benjamin Greene

Arch 101

Spring 2013

Icebreaker Exercise: Iteration One

Three qualities that describe myself:

lovingly protective, enthusiastically surviving, energetically optimistic

the colors represent my will to survival against the odds (type I diabetes and past child abuse/bullying) & the hidden quartz crystal is meant to represent my idea of my thoughts freeing me from my physical limitations

My Thoughts and Feelings – Week 1

Happy to be back in school after being gone 6 months. Slight discomfort at the first homework assignment becomes enjoyment of creating something. I learned my aesthetic and Jerry's are not always the same, and realized I maybe misinterpreted the assignment. Still, I decide to push on with the class despite tersely emailing Jerry about my upset feelings.

Icebreaker Exercise: Iteration 2 & 3

The iteration on the left unfortunately met its early demise by falling to the concrete so this is its only picture. The one on the right informed my first kit of parts drawing.

Week Two Written Reflections

Can a design language be expressively exact?

A design language can never be one hundred percent exact because the same design can be interpreted to mean entirely different things to different people. As a result, any design is left open ended in the fact that the person experiencing the design is the one who is in charge of interpreting it.

What was learned and discovered through experiencing the Icebreaker Exercise?

I learned in the icebreaker exercise that my idea of what looks interesting may not be the same as Jerry's. Other people may not understand the meanings that I am trying to convey so I may have to find another way to express the meaning I am attempting to convey.

Iteration 3 – Kit of Parts Drawing

I created my kit of parts drawing using the third iteration model I had previously created. I attempted to break my kit of parts down into a three step process for how the fimo and armature wire go together before being sculpted around the crystal.

Iteration 4 – Kit of Parts Drawing

This version of my kit of parts drawing contains the models of western redcedar foliage I will be using in my next iteration of my sculpture as well as green paint for coloring them in, since they 3d print clear!

My Thoughts and Feelings – Week 2

Happy to be creating things still, work on an iteration which is later clumsily destroyed (iteration two). My heart is not 100% in what I am doing at this point and perhaps it is showing in my work. I am certainly thinking myself in circles at this point wondering if I am in the right program of study. I need to not let small waves rock my boat too heavily if at all possible.

Week Three Written Reflections

How does the narrative inform our design process and solutions?

Writing is a great tool in general for fleshing out ideas and concepts into a more concrete form. It allows for abstract concepts to have a place to grow and develop. My narrative has helped me a lot with figuring out what I am trying to convey. What was once an abstract representation of some idealized qualities of myself has now taken form in my mind and is starting to be less random and more expressive.

The narrative also allows a story to begin to be expressed through the creation of a design and explains what is going on to the reader. This is a good counter to the issue discussed last week of design being left open to the interpretation of those experiencing it. When someone can read what you have to say about your design, it helps them understand your intention more clearly.

Iteration 5 – Written NarrativeThe most significant quality of my sculpture, to me, is the aspect of natural meets man-made. This is achieved by the creation of root or vine like forms in fimo and copper armature wire wrapped around a quartz crystal. The vine like forms have some foliage inspired by coniferous trees I created with AutoCAD and a 3d printer. The end result is a sculpture that blurs the line between what is and isn't natural, and contains an element of hide and reveal and contrast between the curvilinear forms of the fimo and the linear forms of the quartz crystal and faux cedar foliage. As first they observe this piece, the audience will have an experience of seeing organic shapes represented by and intertwined with man made colors and materials, built around a piece of quartz which is solid but transparent. I aim to create an experience of integrating naturalistic forms created by man with those created by nature. As a result, this design primarily represents to me the concept of humanity as a part of nature, and the idea that what we create is just as much a part of nature as natural objects. As we become more aware of this as a species, our collective design patterns are moving more toward an integration with nature instead of a battle against it. As coniferous trees can grow on a blank rock face, so can we face our collective challenges we face in the future, though engaging our creative sides.

Iteration 6 – Physical Model Relating to Iterations 4 & 5

text

My Thoughts and Feelings – Week 3

The idea of a kit of parts drawing seems like a good one for building physical models. The narrative is also doing a great job of helping me feel good about what I am trying to do with my sculpture. It really is amazing what a difference writing something down can make! At this point, I think I have decided I will commit to the class fully, but am still somewhat unsure of things at this point.

Week Four Written Reflections

What are the ways in which proportions explored through drawing can inform and enhance your design?

The exploration of proportion through drawing can help to inform and enhance my design because it is through the study of these organizational systems that I can come to understand ways to design my work in a way that has a basis in visually interesting and perhaps even beautiful spatial relationships.

What principles and strategies do you employ to unify your forms into a beautiful whole?

I enjoy using mathematically based proportional systems such as the Fibonacci or golden mean sequence to bring a sense of dynamic unity to my work. I feel deeply inspired by the natural world around me and I find these types of proportions everywhere in nature. Including them in my work allows these types of natural-looking forms to begin to emerge in my design process, which is of itself unifying.

Week Four Written Reflections (continued)

What is the value of injecting harmonic, golden (nature’s ratio), or Fibonacci/Modular proportions into your design?

As stated in my answer to the previous question, these proportional systems are extremely common in nature and as a result including them in my work allows a feeling of the structure being an integral part of the natural world around it rather than starkly contrasting in both form and function as a standard form can often feel. The use of these types of proportional systems allows for a dynamic sense of unity to be developed in which all parts respond to each other in their location and function within the greater whole.

Proportional Studies

My Thoughts and Feelings – Week 4

Once again the critique from my last iteration of the icebreaker exercise made me feel upset. I think this is partially because, at Portland Community College, I was used to pretty much only receiving positive feedback about what I was up to in my work. CCSF seems like it is shaping up to be more challanging, which I am a little nervous about as we start to move out of the realm of abstract sculptures.

Week Five Written Reflections

How do you shape space to stimulate the senses and evoke memories to create experiences?

A good way to shape space in order to evoke memories and create sensual experiences is to not only think of the space you are creating, but the way the light and shadows interact with the space-defining elements such as walls, columns, ceilings, roofs, and so forth. Great architecture in my opinion pays heed not only to the exterior and interior forms of the spaces being created, but also the forms of the defining elements as well as the interplay of the daylight and shadows. It is through tapping into all these elements of great design that truly evocative works are created.

Space Creation Matrix

My Thoughts and Feelings – Week 5

It was really nice to finally get some positive feedback from Jerry about my last two assignments. I was feeling really down on myself about the Icebreaker exercise, but receiving some positive feedback has made me feel much more empowered and capable of completing tasks and assignments. I hope I can keep up the positive momentum I have been building.

A Tectonic Journey of Three Diverse Spatial Experiences: Drawn & 3d Model

I edited my design to make something I was happier with that addressed the issues raised in the critique – The new version spirals inward on itself instead of outward and the

awkward column has become a tower; the shape is inspired by minerals.

Week Six Written Reflections

Can space be so flexible that anything can happen there? How do you achieve this?

Yes, in my opinion this can be achieved through the removal of things like architectural details and walls. However, doing so can end up creating a type of space that can at times seem too vast and empty in my opinion. I believe there is a reason why humans have developed the concept of separate rooms for separate tasks and functions.

My Thoughts and Feelings – Week 6

Building models is hard – I woke up at 6 am to work on mine this week. I get the feeling it will become easier as I practice it more, but I definitely had some frustrating moments. I was able to take the critique this week without feeling personally offended – probably partially because I was so exhausted. However, the feedback I received on my project allowed me to go back and design something I am much happier with!

Tectonic Frame & Site Inspiration

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Dallas, TX

Morphosis

Hoshakuji Station

Takanezawa, Japan

Kengo Kuma

The Nine Bridges Country Club-Clubhouse

KoreaShigeru Ban Architects

Tectonic Frame & Site Creation

I was feeling very out of my league trying to create a model of this drawing. As a result, I signed up for a class on how to use the laser cutter at TechShop. I am now becoming

comfortable with the use of CNC machinery to cut/plot my designs, but I was unable to create a 3d model on this particular weekend. I learned not to let me anxiety get the best

of me this time, and plan on carrying that lesson ahead with me.

Tectonic Frame & Site Creation – Iteration 2

This model was created by hand since I was unable to access the laser cutter I learned how to use over

the previous weekend. I have maybe been over ambitious with this design as I have struggled to create models. Starting next week, hopefully the

laser cutter and other CNC equipment I have available will make this easier!

Having tools definitely makes doing creative work a lot easier. I was feeling very frustrated with

trying to cut basswood with an X-acto knife until I found out about

these small miter saws and boxes.

Week Seven Written Reflections

Is the Bauhaus manifesto, “ Form follows function” truth?

This is the design manifesto that was followed at my last school, Portland Community College. I am now not sure that this is always the truth. It is important to think about function when it comes to form – but it should maybe not always be the only determinant of function.

‘Design to resemble nature’ or ‘design with nature’, which do you prefer and why?

I think I prefer 'design with nature,' though I must admit I don't understand how that precludes also designing to resemble nature. There can be some truly amazing results when architecture “ flows” with nature, where the distinction between the building and surroundings begins to blur, and therefore the building feels unified with its surroundings.

My Thoughts and Feelings – Week 7

I am so much happier with my design this week that I am not that upset I didn't get my framing model done. I am really stretching myself and learning a lot more than I ever thought possible, and doing new things I had only ever dreamed about before, such as using CNC machinery and building models! This class is getting easier and less stressful as it goes along and I am really starting to love it.

Midterm Conclusion with Matrix1. Create 2. Evaluate 3. Analyze/Communicate 4. Apply 5. Understand

Abstract vs.Literal

X

Transformation XActions XAmbiguity XAsymmetry &Symmetry

X

Biomimicry &BiomimeticArchitecture

X

Brainstorming XConcept Map XContext &Contextualism

X

Contrasts X“ Conversations” XCurvilinear &Linear

X

DesignElements

X

1. Create 2. Evaluate 3. Analyze/Communicate 4. Apply 5. Understand

Design Principles XDisplacement XDynamic & Static XEvolution XExpression,Meaning &Perception

X

Extruding XFigure & Field XFrames & Surfaces XHierarchy XIrony XIterative Design Process

X

Juxtapose & Overlap XKit of Parts XMachine Aesthetic XMetaphor XMirroring XMorphing &Morphogenesis

X

1. Create 2. Evaluate 3. Analyze/Communicate 4. Apply 5. Understand

Narrative or Story XOrthographic Projections

X

Penetrate XProportions & Scale XProximity XRepetition & Rhythm XResponsive Architecture

X

Rotation XSectioning XSignifier & Signified XTectonic Language XTransformations X

In conclusion, I have learned a lot over the course of the first half of Arch 101 – both in terms of what to do and what not do when it comes to design choices and model creation.

I have also learned a lot of new vocabulary terms, ways of responding to stresses, organizational skills, and reading comprehension skills. I also feel as though I have been

pushing myself to do things I never thought possible before!