ARCH  101    LEARNING  PORTFOLIO  Spring  2015  •  Instructor:  Jerry  Lum  Youhua  Giana  Jin  

What  I  Have  Done  

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Summary:   These   are   all   the   iteraOons   of   my   model.   They   show   my   learning   process   and  improvement  from  the  first  model  to  the  last.  We  based  a  Malevich  inspired  construcOon  to  design  our  models   from   2D   to   3D.   We   idenOfied   forms   and   developed   models   using   abstract   concepts   and  narraOves  to  show  and  describe  a  visitor’s  experience  moving  through  our  design.  

Assessment Criteria:  •  Our   project   for   this   first   week   is   an  

“Icebreaker   exercise”   to   reinterpret  Malevich’s   “Supremacist   ComposiOon   #2”  into  a  tectonic  form.  

 •  Finding  the  elements  to  be  interpreted  from  

2-­‐D  transformed  to  3-­‐D  form  as  abstracOon.    •  DemonstraOng  and  exploring   the  potenOals  

of  form  and  space  relaOonships.    •  FabricaOng  a  constructed  design      •  Maintaining  structural  integrity    •  Maintaining   an   abstract   and   conceptual  

quality  in  construct    •  Showing  the  demonstrated  beauty.    

Week 1-

ArOst:  Kazimir  Malevich’s  Lithograph    

Week  1-­‐   #1 Iteration - 6 hours

SelecOng  the  “T”  shape  elements  of  the  Malevich’s  lithograph.    

Finding   the   elements   to   be   interpreted   from   2-­‐D   transformed   to   3-­‐D   form   as  abstracOon.  Maintaining  abstract  structural  integrity  and  conceptual  quality  in  construcOon.  

Recognizing   the   elements   of   design   language.   Expanding   abstract   systems   and  organizaOon.  DecoraOng  the  frame  with  no  real  design  sense.    

Avoiding  decoraOon  of  the  surface.  Upgrading  the  design  abstracOon.  NoOng  the  framing  design.  

Week  2  -­‐      Comprehension  

According   to   the   textbook:   There   are  that  architecture  is  

•  A   b u i l d i n g   c a n   i n c o r p o r a t e   o t h e r  

representa4onal  arts  like  pain4ng  or  sculpture.  

•  A  building  can  be  a  representa4on  of  an  earlier  

building  or  a  version  of  itself.

•  Buildings   or   parts   of   buildings   can   represent  

other  important  objects  like  human  beings.

•  Common   characteris4cs   of   architecture,   like  

regularity  and  symmetry,   represent  aspects  of  

human   experience.   For   example,   leA-­‐right  

hands  or  the  rhythm  of  breathing.

•  Architecture  can  reflect  the  primary  condi4ons  

of  existence  on  planet  Earth.    Photograph  by  Giana    

Photograph  by  Giana    

•  Without   representaOon   we   find   no  

meaning  in  the  world.  

•  The  ability  to  find  meaning  in  the  world  is  

so  natural  to  us.  

•  We   are   constantly   interpreOng   our  

surroundings   and   comparing   things.   We  

should   find   meaning   in   experience   and  

project  meaning  onto  experience.  

•  Our   ability   to   represent,   interpret,   and  

find   meaning   is   something   we   have   to  

learn  how  to  do   like  speaking  a   language  

and  then  we  need  to  use  this  language  for  

thinking  about  architecture.    

•  Modern   architecture   is   equally   symbolic  

and  representaOonal  of  ancient  buildings.

Week  2  -­‐      

Le  Centre  Pompidou,  Pairs.  Photograph  by  Giana      

Comprehension  

Week  2  -­‐          

Drawing  pracOce    I  used   charcoal   sOcks   to  draw   the  model  on  newsprint.   These  are   just  

fast   sketches.   I   drew   several   different   views   to   compared   these   views  

with  the  same  views  in  photographs  to  see  the  differences  angles.  This  

helped  me  to  see  how  to  form  3-­‐D  from  2-­‐D  .  Also  we  pinned  these  on  

the  wall  for  criOque  and  show  the  differences  from  the  others.  This  is  a  

very  important  part  of  pracOce.  We  shouldn’t  be  afraid  to  show  our  ugly  

ways  to  improve  our  design.

Week  2  -­‐   ＃2  IteraOon  –  8  Hours  

Draw  and  photograph  with  purpose.  Improving  design  based  on  iteraOon  #1.  The  

second  iteraOon  should  adhere  to  the  same  limitaOons  and  requirements  of  the  first.  

DecoraOng  the  boxes  on  the  surface.  Thinking  about  design  in  an  abstract  vision.  Materializing  a   fragment  of  an   idea  and  using   imaginaOon   to  promote  new  

acOons  to  unify  a  set  of  fragments.    

My  assessment:  •  Lack  of  imaginaOon  and  creaOvity  and  ideas  confined  to  the  real  building.    •  IteraOon   #2   doesn’t   have   clear   design   ideas   to   improve   and   form   an   abstract,  

complex,  and  asymmetrical  concept.  •  Forgegng  that  this  was  supposed  to  be  an  abstract  concept.  Learning  from  mistakes  

to  know  my  weaknesses.  Grasping    the  true  intenOon  of  the  exercise.  

Week  2  -­‐    ＃2  IteraOon  –  8  Hours  

Week  3  –        Learning  process  

•  Discovering  Maya   Lin’s  narraOve  of   the  Viet  Nam  Memorial  to  demonstrate  how  to  write  a  narraOve.  

•  Reading   this   narraOve   for   many   Omes   and  watching  Maya   Lin’s   online   interview,   I   felt  that   I   sOll   have   a   limited   imaginaOon   about  how  to  write  my  narraOve.  

•  FrustraOon   can   not   reduce   stress.   Finding  inspiraOon   on   line   or   reading   the  magazine  to  promote  insight.  

•  Worrying   about   not   understanding  everything  in  class.  

•  DigesOon   takes   Ome.   Trying   to   resolve   my  fears   and   gegng   rid   of   my   negaOve  emoOons.    

•  Talking   to   family   and   professors   to   reduce  pressure.    

•  Building  the  confidence  to  do  a  bejer  job  in  this  class.  Studying  very  seriously.    

The  Viet  Nam  Memorial  design  by  Maya  Lin  

Week  3  –  ＃3  IteraOon  –  8  Hours    

WriOng  narraOves  and  creaOng  3  different  spaOal    places.    Making  a  story  for  a  wonderful  journey.    

No  meaning  for  my  design  in  this  model.    Using  tension  and  release  to  design  a  pajern  and  ajempOng  to  break  it.  Finding  

openings  and  paths  to  make  the  design  interesOng.  Paying  ajenOon  to  the  natural  and  constructed  environment  to  give  visitors  a  wonderful  journey.    

Week  4  –  

THE  APPROACH  :  I  have  visited  the  De  Young  museum  many  Omes.   I   never   paid   ajenOon   to   the  museum’s   construcOon   and   design   before   I   took  architecture   classes.   Today   I   brought   these  intenOons  to  a  new  visit.  What  do  I  think  now?    How  did  I  see  the  museum  differently  than  before?  What  about  the  design,  did   I   like   it  or  not?  How  does  the  design  support  the  museum’s  funcOon?    I  was  so  excited  to  saOsfy  my  curiosity.  First,  I  came  from   the   underground   garage   to  walk   to   the   front  plaza  of  the  De  Young  museum.  It  is  a  great  place  for  people  to  walk  around  and  sit  down  to  meet  friends  and   family.  There  are  many  trees  without  branches  and   leaves.   They   look   like   old   men   and   are   very  strong  because  you  can  see  their  wrinkles  and  rough  skin  as  they  stand  in  the  center  of  the  plaza.  It  made  me   feel  cold.  When   I   came  to   the  side  of   the  plaza  and   faced  the  museum.   I  could  see  the  view  of   the  whole  museum.       One   axis   divided   two   parts   of   the   plaza   from   the  center  and  crossed  to  the  museum’s  entrance.              

Week  4  –  

APPROACH   EXPERIENCE:   The   main   part   of  structure   is   horizontal   with   a   lijle   bit   of   a   curved  shape   and   a   few   small   windows   on   the   top   and  three  big  glass  curtain  walls  on  the  bojom.  On  the  top  to  the  right,  the  “Y”  shape  was  twisted  around  by   about   thirty   degrees.   It   dominates   the  architecture   and   ajracts   the   vision   of   visitors.   I  think  this  highlights  the  design.    

Instructor   Jerry’s   comment:   “THE  LANDMARK  IS  TO  BE  SEEN  FROM  AFAR  &   IS   PART   OF   THE   APPROACH  EXPERIENCE:  Yes,  the  tower  twisOng  as  it   soars   high   above   the   museum   and  park   is   now   a   landmark   that   can   be  seen   from  afar  and  marks   the   locaOon  of  the  de  Young.   It  begs  one  to  find   it,  enter   the   museum,   and   ride   the  elevator   to   its   observaOon   plamorm.  There,   the   curious   visitor   is   rewarded  with   panoramic   views   of   The   City.  Before   entering   the   elevator,   visitors  are  greeted  by  Ruth  Ozawa’s  beauOful  wire   sculptures   that   are   lit   to   project  even   more   beauOfully   shadowed  pajerns   on   the   adjacent   walls.   Here,  lighOng,   forms   that   cast   shadows,   and  surfaces   that   receive   the   shadows   are  carefully  considered  and  placed”.  

THE  ENTRY  STATEMENT  :  To  the  len  of  the  entrance  there  are  two  large  glass  windows  and  there  is  one  large  glass  window  on  the  right.  It  shows  balance  and  symmetry.  Then,  I  came  to  the  entrance  that  is  a  rectangle  opening  and  over  the  top  entrance  is  a  triangle.  This  gives  a  very  interesOng  look.  

THE  ENTRY  EXPERIENCE:  Aner  that,  I  entered  the  courtyard  past  the  front  gate  that  has  several  sculpture  stones  signg  on  the  ground.  It  has  a  small  opening  skylight  to  give  a  bright  interior  during  the  day  that  is  very  significant  and  important  with  the  transparency  of  a  curtain  wall  form  contrasOng  and  opening  the  space.    It  is  a  brainy  design  to  lure  visitors  to  stop  and  sit.

Week  4  –    

The  sculpture  of  stones  design  by  Andy  Goldsworthy    

THE  CENTRAL  LOBBY  SPACE:  On  the  first  floor  is  a  Ocket  office.    On  the  sides  of  the  first  floor  are  steep  and  wide  steps.  Next  to  the  steps  is  the  high  curtain  glass  wall  connecOng  inside  and  outside.  It  shows  natural  beauty  on  the  outside.  I  felt  that  the  green  trees  and  natural  stones  brought  new  life  to  the  design.  I  walked  through  the  first  floor  lobby  which  has  a  very  spacious,  open,  and  high  celling.  Huge  wood  benches  in  the  middle  allow  visitors  to  sit.    From  the  second  floor  balcony  you  can   look  down  and  see  the  people  are   like  very  small  cartoon  toys.  Two   long  rectangles  of  ceiling  lights  light  the  lobby.  It  feels  very  warm  to  sit  down  or  walk  around.  There  are  also  design  exits  in  the  corners  that  are  safety.

The  first  floor  entrance     The  first  floor  steps  Outside  plants    

Week  4  –  

                   Outdoor  plants     SiNng    area    

I   enjoyed   the  painOngs   and   sculptures.       Aner   a  long  walk,  I  came  to  the  De  Young  café  to  sit  outside  to  drink  some  coffee.  It  was  a  wonderful  experience  to  enjoy  the  beauOful  garden  view  and  architectural  design.   The   asymmetric   shape   of   crossbeams   are  connected   to   each   building   on   top   of   the   ceiling.  When   visitors   sit   down   to   enjoy   their   drinks   they  meanwhile   enjoy   amazing   and   remarkable  architecture   and   sculptures.   I   am   sure   that   this  ajracted  my  eyes.  Signg  and  watching  the  peaceful  garden  was  enjoyable.  Several  sculptures  are  spread  around  the  garden.  This  reinforced  my  energy，  

Week  4  –  

I   discovered   a   mysterious   Skyspace   that   has   an  incredible  design.   I   love   that  place.   The   Skyspace   is  very  secluded  so  you  have  to  cross  a  path  in  front  of  the  garden  to  find  the  direcOon  to  get  into  a  circular  shape  with  a  circular  opening  skylight.  The  outside  of  the  circular  space  was  built  with  a  high  circular  wall  and  painted  a  beauOful  Tuscan  color.  When  I  walked  there   I   felt   very   calm.   It  was   like   I   had   gone   to   the  moon.  In  the  modern  society,  we  need  to  find  some  places   like   the   Skyspace   to   appease   our   mental  anxiety  and  stress.

Week  4  –  

Week  4  –    

Developing   the   narraOve   to   design.   UOlizing   design   principles,   methods   and  techniques  to  develop  a  complete  design  process.    

I   can   not   grasp   the   purpose   of   the   design,   I   do   not   have   a   completed     narraOve  process  to  support  my  design.  

Extending  the  design  space,  the  direcOon  of  rotaOon  can  be  considered  to  change  the  volume  of  the  shape.  Definite  increase  in  the  level  and  creaOon  of    three  spaces.  Thinking  out  of  a  small  space.  

#  5  IteraOon  –  6  Hours    

Week  4  –    

The   main   construcOon   is   connected   to   the  secondary   construcOon.   The   wide   and   steep  steps   of   the   main   construcOon   lead   to   the  second  floor,  and  a  horizontal  bridge  connects  the  second  floor  of  the  main  construcOon  and  separates   the   spaces.   But   the   walls   are   also  transparent   to   give   a   modern   look   and  communicate  with  the  outside  view.    The  first  floor   of   the   secondary   construcOon   has   a  coffee  shop.  Signg  areas  are  outside  on  either  side.   There   are   many   visitors   enjoying   the  outdoor   seaOng.   Indoors   and   outdoors  interact   with   each   other.   Daylight   coming  through   the  main  construcOon   is   reflected  by  the  north  side.  The  back  on  the  north  side  has  two  exits  that  give  safety  and  funcOonality.

#1   Narra>ve:   The   main   construcOon   of  my  model  has  a  front  entrance  that  faces  south.  The   front   of   the   entrance   shape   is   rectangular  and   three  Omes  higher   than  human  scale.  Both  of  the  sidewalls  of  the  entrance  are  transparent  curtain   walls   with   columns   supporOng   them.  Aner   entering   the   front   gate   there   is   a   lobby  signg  area.  Perhaps  I  would  place  one  big  wood  sculpture   in   the   center   to  encourage  visitors   to  take   a   break.   The   first   floor   is   open   with   no  interior  walls.   It  has  a  very  high  ceiling   to  show  spaciousness  and  magnificence  in  the  space.  

Week  5  –     #6  IteraOon  –  10  Hours    

1   2   3   4  

5   6   7   8  Showing  #6  Itera4on  from  different  angles    

Week  5  –    

Reflec>on：  When  I  designed  IteraOon  6,  I  really  didn’t  like  my  design  for  IteraOon  5.  So  on  the  basis   of   the   "T”   and   to   complete   changing   structure,   I   created   a  more   complex   structure,  extending  the  verOcal  height  and  create  different  spaces.  This  is  a  step  forward.  But  I  sOll  did  not  create  the  convergence  point  in  space,  where  to  go  in  and  where  to  go  out.  The  problem  is  that  I  need  to  improve  the  focus  of  the  next  step.  I  also  considered  the  use  of  asymmetric  design  which  results  in   a  different  hierarchy.  

#6  IteraOon  –  10  Hours    

：    •  Our   discussion   focused   on   the  

climacOc  place  for  the  storyboard.      •  Using   a   path   to   draw,   Sketchup,   or  

collage   each   transiOon,   we   should  write   notes   to   explain   the   design,  and  give  visitors  a  five  sense  feeling.  This   is   important   for   students  thinking  about  design.  

 •  My   presentaOon   was   not   clear  

about   the   “path”   and   “place”   to  show  my  storyboard  of  the  climacOc  place.  

 •  I  made  mistakes  because  I  mixed  up  

the  design  and  the  visitors  together.  

Week  5  –      

#  7  Itera4on  –  5  Hours      

The  storyboard  of  climac4c    

Week  6  –      

This  week  we  focused  on  “Site”  design  to   idenOfy  at   least   three  significant  spaces.  We   have   to   pass   paths   and   nodes   when   considering   our   design.   How   do   I   achieve   my   design  intenOon?   So   to   idenOfy   three   sets   of   diverse   spaOal   experiences   is   very   important.   These   three  places   should  connect   to  each  other   to  make  our   journey  successful  and  give  visitors  a  desire   to  want   to  come  back  again.  During  my  design  process,   I  have  been  used   to   thinking  very   lijle  and  then   only   aner  making  my  model.  When   I   do   this   the   wrong   way,   my   design   has   no   heart,   no  meaning,  and  is  not  unified.    

How  to  connect  one  place  to  another  place  or  walk  through  a  room  to  pass  to  the  next  room?    “Thinking”  is  a  key  of  design.  Making  is  based  on  thinking  how  we  produce  our  models.  

＃8  IteraOon  –  8Hours    

Week  7  -­‐   #  9  IteraOon  -­‐10  Hours  

Challenge:  What   is   the   skeleton   of  an   object,   whether   it   is   the   anchor   or  holding  capacity?  Each  connecOon  point  is   criOcal.   What   is   the   logical   structure  of  the  object?  

Weakness:  Not  being  certain  of  the  anchor   or   holding   capacity,   or   the  logical  structure.    

Improvement:   Skeletal   objects  have   a   clear   framework.   Made   the  connecOon   points   the   object   of   logical  thinking.  Knew  exactly  what  consOtutes  skeleton.   Paid   more   ajenOon   to   the  details  of  the  handmade  model.  

Week  7  -­‐  

Reflec>on:  In  class  the  teacher  demonstrated  the  architecture  of  the   skeleton   structure.   He  introduced  the  skeleton  structure  a n d   t h e   p r i n c i p l e s   o f  architecture.   When   I   saw   so  many   famous   buildings   using  different  structures,  pajerns  and  incredible   design,   it   made   me  feel  successful  in  my  architecture  and   design   charm.   I   really   liked  this  part  of  the  exercise.   It   is   like  a   human   anatomy   class   -­‐   we  n eed   t o   u nde r s t a nd   t h e  construcOon   of   our   human   body  first,  then  think  about  buildings.  

Week  7  –   ＃10  Itera4on  -­‐12  Hours    

Challenge:   Choosing   the   right  materials   and   construcOon   of   the  frame  all  pasted  together  to  solve  each  spaOal   channel   series.   Making   the  analyOcal   framework   inherent   in   the  relaOonship  with  the  surface.  

Weakness：   Arranging   a   Ome   to  improve  the  effecOveness  of  the  work;  imagining   some   kind   of   conversion  relaOonship.  

Improvement:   Selected   the  appropriate   materials   to   improve   the  visual  effect  of  the  frame.  Three  spaces  and  channels  created  at  different  levels  to   improve   the   internal   details   of   the  design.   AjenOon   to   detail   coupled  with  the  treatment.  

Week  7  –  

Tectonic   Strength:   This   is   the  last   model   I   built.   I   solved   the   most  difficult   problems   to   create   three  different   spaces.   From   the   ground  upwards,   the   expression   of   an  orthogonal   relaOonship   of   horizontal  and   verOcals   transforms   at   the  second   level   structure   to   build   a   45  degree  rotaOon  which  completes   the  base   organizaOon.   The   expression   of  both   the   exposed   frame   and   the  addiOon   of   surfaces   promotes   this  transformaOon.  

＃10  Itera4on  -­‐12  Hours    

   

From   the   beginning   of   this   class,   I   felt  enormous   pressure   and   thought   about  giving   up.     But   I   like   architecture   and  design,   so   I   chose   to   challenge   myself  and  conOnue.  This  class  presented  a  new  conceptual  way  of  thinking  for  me  and  a  chance   to   explore   my   creaOvity.   I'm   a  pracOcal   person   who   is   not   used   to  focusing   on   imaginaOon.   So   I   limit   my  creaOvity.   This   has   been   a   painful  process.  I  need  to  change  my  old  way  of  thinking   in   order   to   complete   my  professional   development   and   that   is   a  very  challenging  task.  I  found  in  this  class  that  the  most  important  part  of  design  is  

criOque.   Preparing   for   the   class,  making   the   models,   and   thinking  through   the   design   process   are   all  related  to  each  other.   If  you  do  not  parOcipate  in  the  discussion  in  class,  you   do   not   know   where   your  weaknesses   are   or   how   to   improve  your  design.  Finding  the  potenOal  to  solve   the   problems,   and   develop  design   skills   from     experience   and  criOque   is   important.   We   need   to  use   a   combinaOon   of   art   and  pracOce  to  create  bejer  designs  and  promote  our  aestheOc  vision.