ARCHITECTURE DESIGN101

MIDTERMCHARLES SANFORD

CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO

CONTENTSI. First Week:

II. Second Week

III. Third Week

IV. Fourth Week

V. Fifth Week

VI. Six Week

VII. Seventh Week

IIX. Eight Week

IX. Ninth Week

X. Tenth Week

FIRST WEEK: Ice breaker

Earlier in the school, I, enrolled in his first architectural design course at City College of

San Francisco. In what was expected to be a rather sublime introduction into the basics of

art and design turned out to be anything but. From the very first week I was caught off

balance from the enormous work load and curious dialogue that accompanied the course.

In this special issue, I will retrace the turbulent weeks that the upstart undertook in my

metamorphosis to become a more sophisticated designer and student in the practice and

theory of architecture and get a overall picture of what went right and went wrong.

FIRST WEEK: ice breaker

As luck would have it, I started the class one week behind,

so, the need to subsequently “catch-up” was a necessary deed,

although a troublesome obstacle when it came to embodying the total

jest of the initial project called “Ice Breaker”.

From what he could ascertain, instructions were, quite simplistic-

assemble a 12 pieces and platform piece of cardboard measuring

exactly 8.5 x 11 inches.

FIRST WEEK: ice breaker

Easy.

Or at least I thought it was rudimentary in delivery. My thinking was it would be twelve

distinct items, each symbolizing the ever increasing world of materialism and commerce,

but I felt I failed miserably by coming up short in delivering something more closer to the

classes expectations, if not my own. IT WAS JUNK!

FIRST WEEK: Ice breaker

Iteration#1-A mix of12

Items symbolizing gross

commercialisms and materialism

Second week: representation

After my disappointing freshman outing, I was enthused but still in a state of confusion, so much, I

took to writing his frustrations in his narrative describing his creative process or more or less, lack thereof. He

explained what he knew what he had to do, but not the depth to delve intellectually to find a grip on his

model projects. In retrospect, he thinks now he would have been better served to follow the prescribed

syllabus for Architecture Design 101, particularly the following:

What is the value of repetition in design? What are the types of repetition? 2. What constitutes order and

what is its value in design? 3. What makes a composition of arranged objects static or dynamic in nature? 4.

What is the relationship of one element of your composition to another and to the whole? 5. What

relationship(s), if any, are created between the arranged objects and the space around and between them? 6.

What is your constructed composition about? Does it represent anything, tell a story, and embody an idea or

quality? 7. How does your selection of materials, their surface qualities, and level of craft used in your

construction affect the perceptions of others? 8. What is your process from start to finish? 9. How do you

assess your work and what criteria do you use in your assessment?

Second week : Respresentation

Third Week: Language

The third week was a more direct assignment. We used GoogleSketchup to “sketch” our design and write a companion narrative orstory that relates to your present design in terms of its scale (inrelationship to the size of a human), purpose, and environment; anduse this narrative to focus the evolution of subsequent iterations thatincrease in both complexity and beauty.

In my sketch and model, it was important

symbolize man’s insignificance against the

Larger forces in life such as commercialism,

and materialism.

I

FOURTH WEEK: Form

In my fourth outing, I was more determin-ed than ever to create a model and photograph a structure that would both reign next to the assignment and begin resemb-ling some vistage of art

FIFTH WEEK: SPACE

Week five concentration on space and openness. I understood the idea ofcreating space in a design rather than closing off your design viaemploying materials that can manipulated easily proved to be the challenge.I found it veryformidable in forming spacewithout looking like apreschool project, andCame to realization my con-struction material and theNeed for inspiration is need-ed

SIXTH WEEK:TRUTHUnfortunately, a miscommunication breakdown dissolved any

chance of producing a correct model. It was my understanding a “frame” of your design was literally a frame, but in actuality the frame meant the frame of the structure or body. But a frame was still, in a sense, constructed around my paper model though I feel the mark was missed.

t

SEVENTH WEEK: NATURE Probably what had to be my comprehensive and understandable project so far was to

“research and identify exemplary designs that respond to the physicality of site and the forces of nature.” For my presentation, I foregone the usual building site presentation and focused on the emerging design of pedestrian parks and walkways throughout the bay area and other metropolitan cities. These miniature

Mandela Parkway LATHAM PARK

Small park like spaces have been a breathe of life for decrepit parking spaces, overused driveways like Oakland’s little Lathem Park or San Francisco’s Ocatvia and Hayes street corridor. These pedestrian urban walkways act as a sanctuary and encompassing its natural surrounding therefore adding a sense serenity in the middle of busy boulevards, downtown districts and neighborhoods.

IN CONCLUSION

The past few weeks have been engaging and highly involved, but Ilearned gradually the need for ORGANIZATION,PLANNING,andPATIENCE if I want learn how be good designer and amateur architectnot that I didn’tpossess these attributes on some level but it isapparent those three principles are a must in the business and inARCHITECTURE DESIGN 101. Therefore, in the subsequent weeks Iwill seek arts and crafts tips and seek the tutorage of senior students,not mention, reading the prescribed course text.