midterm learning portfolio

Minh LeMinh LeARCH 21 ( M-ARCH 21 ( M-

W )W )Fall 2010Fall 2010

Minh Le ARCH 21 M-W Fall 2010

1. Ice-Breaker Exercise Inspiration Construction

2. Floor and Surroundings What does Floor do? Iterations Brief Thoughts

3. Wall and relationship with Floor What does Wall do? Iterations Brief Thoughts

Whenever it comes to making a 3D model from a specific subject , I tend to focus on its literally meaning. So is this exercise. The first thing comes to my mind when thinking of Transformation is the changing of forms between two objects. Therefore, I pick a sphere and a cube to be the objects of the model, and then I’d try to convey the transformation between these two.


The concept is the transformation between two forms : the sphere and the cube, while the same material is kept the same. I have a thought of whether or not changing the material since it could add more complexity, but I finally decide to keep same material and texture because to me, changing material leads to Evolution which is not what I want to show in the model.


Finding material for the making is harder than I think it is. Since the model contains a sphere, I need something easy to work with and can keep the form of the object . I fail trying with paper and wire mess . Then I see a tin foil roll in the kitchen and start play with it. It turns out to be what I’m looking for.


What does Floor do? This is an interesting question on the very first day the Floor element is introduced. I have never asked myself this question before. If I went back to the day before deciding to major in architecture and someone asked me about the function of the Floor, I would probably go speechless.

I have never realized how much the Floor could affect the surroundings and on human activities until the 3rd week of this class. Now I know the Floor actually directs the traffic/ circulation, support a load and demarcate areas. And the Floor also contain Paths and Nodes

Walking around campus and recalling some old pictures I took around the city, I ask myself how I know which is path and which is node when I see one.


To me, a path’s main purpose is giving access from one place to another. A path can also connect two or more other paths together. At each intersection two paths create, there might possibly be a Node.

A node, in relationship with paths, is a place that has some specific activity. It can be a place for resting. It can be the intersection of two paths, and sometimes a node within a path can just simply be a place to change the direction or speed.


In the first 2 iteration of exploring the floor. I don’t have a very clear concept of what I would focus specifically on. The images of mountain and ocean wave come to mind make me set down to make these two models.

With each time the waves come up then down, a node is created. There are paths perpen-dicular with and under some highest waves allow access from one space to another. Standing on the top of different waves gives different experiences and responses.

After the critique of the first two iterations, I realize I don’t have a clear message on which a main path, which are nodes, which is the starting point and which is the destination.Therefore, I decide to change my concept in order to focus more on the function of paths and nodes.In this model, I indicate the specific starting point (A) and destination (B). I use the idea of a bridge to take a person to the main piece. And from there, different lever of floor would leads to the destination : the center and top of the world.



I wander around this world looking for some adventure until I see a bridge. The bridge leads to this huge sculpture. I am attracted by its geometrical form so I decide to go have a closer look. The bridge is not so small. It allows about 3 people. The bridge rapidly gets a bit wider as I am passing through. This gives me a sense of welcoming to a new place and to a whole new experience. When I reach to middle of the bridge, I pause and take a look at the sculpture. With what my view allows me to see, it looks like a set of couple different-size rings sloping up from the ground; the smaller ring attacks to bigger one sloping up in the opposite direction. A big, strong column from the ground comes right through the holes in the center of both rings. I am curious what that column has to do at the top. While I am walking down the bridge, my eyes keep looking at that circular piece. I feel more excited and excited as I get closer to it. At the point I get to the end of the bridge and set foot on the main piece, the excitement makes me cannot wait to explore the whole sculpture. I take a glimpse at the top, and I find out another smaller ring which I do not see when I am crossing the bridge.

Since it has the circular shape, the path is divided into two. Without hesitation, I turn right and run up. One advantage of the circular form is that it allows me to go around the whole piece as I run up, so I do not miss a thing. It feels like the angles the ring make is steeper than the bridge is. I feel more tired. Or is it because I run? I finally get to the point where the two rings attacked to each other. It is about 30 feet above the ground. Stopping and looking around to the surroundings from this level makes me feel relaxed and free. After catching my breathe, I enter the second level and continue to run up the circular path to the next floor. Finally, I see the top of the cylindrical column. I slow down and walk to point where I can reach to the center platform. At this point, it gets up to about 45 feet high above the ground. I step up on it. I stand there and let wind blows passing through. My eyes are closed. The feeling of being at the high top center of space is just great.


*Discoveries :- The floors may have similar function, but

when you get to different levels, the experiences and emotional responses are different.

- Sometimes, a node can be put within a path and somehow help indicate the direction and speed.

*Challenges & Solution: - My first two iterations concepts are too

broad. The direction of paths and the existence of nodes are not clear. To solve that, I decide to get away from the idea of landscape and focus on path and node themselves.



Having just finished with the studying of the Floor, my mind still lingers with the notion of paths and nodes when we first come to the new architectural element : Wall.

Just like when I first exploring the Floor, I have a very limited knowledge of the Wall’s function. Fortunately, walking around the city and learning some buildings in my very tight free time give me some brief conclusion on the purposes of the Wall. In my opinion, one of the most important architectural element that affect the human spatial experience is the Wall.

Wall, in the relationship with Floor, would demarcate two spaces or have a clear effect on the direction of the flow.

Walls can also form the enclosed space and indicate insides with outsides.

Objects set inside an enclosed space would affect human spatial experience in that space.

Single column, or marker, becomes landmark and be visible from far away. It also interact with the surroundings. A marker in space can transform into the designated space for meeting or other activities.

Row/ grid of columns works as wall to define the space within.



Thinking of “Temple,” the most familiar idea to me is the symmetrical order and high walls.

Since this the first attempt and still looking for the clear notions of Temple, I decide to give my Temple the combination of high walls put in symmetrical order.


Since the 1st iteration lacks complexity, I add more levels into the interior and transitional stairs .

I keep the symmetrical order, because I want to explore more of that idea. I want to see if I can add more complexity and have diverse spatial experiences.

The walls have been lowered because the critique make me realize that high not always define sacred, and I also want to try something different.


The first two symmetry-form iterations don’t really give me much of different spatial experiences, so I decide to get out of the idea of symmetry.

I pretty much attempt to play with asymmetrical arrange-ment of walls.

The main building (A) walls have different heights. The outside space (B) is put on one side of the building, not in front of it.

In this iteration, I also start paying attention to the axis of the site. The North-South axis is perpendicular with the main building and parallel with the outside area.


With help from professor with site analysis, I have found several weakness in my modeling, from lack of complexity to the unclear spatial experience in designing spaces and the transition.

In this 4th iteration, I pay more attention and have more intention in arranging walls, spaces and their relationship.

At this stage, my modeling is still the tryout of new ideas, critique/ suggestions, and materials. I want to make sure at the final iteration, I would know what works and what not work.


The axis of the site has been employed in the last 2 iterations, but it has no intention. So in this iteration, I try to make that axis relate to the main room and the whole building.

There is a long path way on the uneven ground/ the found world leading to the temple. My concept for this final iteration is simply “a journey to the sacred place.” the four nodes along the way represents four period of time in life: being born, learning, living and passing away. In the end of the journey- the end of life or of day, you would enter the temple from the West.

Once you are inside the building, the parallel walls would lead you to the center point of the whole building where you can decide to turn left to go to the scared room or turn right to go outside to the garden.

The inclined walls create more open space for the spirit room. It welcomes visitors. The room face the East which is the highest power: the Sun. So that every morning, the spirit room would get the very first sunshine of the day.


*Discovery: the open in wall could give the view to other distant places. Also after completing the final iteration, I realize that higher-wall entrance, in an enclosed space with sloping roof inward, draws attention toward the lower walls.

*Challenges & Solutions: I have hard time designing the transition between the three spaces. To help me with that, professor Lum shows me how to use site plans to find what I need to improve and new directions, new approaches I can start from. In the process of making the 3D model, the finished models are not always accurate with the origin sketch. I use Bristol paper to make walls. Maybe because of my poor craftsmanship, it is hard to keep paper in the exact shapes I plan; this lead to the false response and concept. Therefore, in the last iteration, I decide to change to card board because it can keep the shape after I finish.

Overall, the biggest challenge I’ve been facing during the first 9 weeks is that I usually don’t have enough time to do assignment. I get stuck at coming up with the “right” idea and concept that I sometimes forget to actually start doing the assignment.

After each iteration, I usually want to try something new and replace what unnecessary, and sometimes frustration of getting the work done make me add on too much new idea; it turns out to be a completely new one, then I have to come back and find the positive thing in my design.

So, in order to deliver better works and to maintain a good health as well, I would manage my time more wisely. I would divide my time equally to every class. I would also use some techniques and suggestion that professors and peers have given me like: playing with materials, playing with the idea until the new concept come up, or using diagrams, site analysis to find weakness and new, better approach to the next iterations. Besides that, asking critique questions and finding answers could help develop a better understanding of the assignment and learning of the new architectural element. I am so looking forward to exploring the Ceiling Element .


midterm learning portfolio

Documents

w fall

nodes minh

minh learch

floor element

paths main purpose

finding material

paths perpendicular

changing of forms