Before Studio: Week 03

Hi guys,

Please be sure that all the required work to date is uploaded to your blog before studio. This week we will only be discussing what you can show me on your blog (ie. sketches, Sketchup screenshots, etc). If its not on your blog, its not up for discussion...

See you in studio
Chris

Defining Ground

A good post worth checking out from another tutor's blog. This should be a good one for those of you who were asking today if the 3D model is just an extrusion of the section...
http://arch1101-2016rm.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/underground-sapces.html

PS: Note the stair in the first example up to the 'above' space!

Recap: Week 02

Hi guys,

I don't think I need to go into too much detail recapping todays class - you all seem to be getting on top of things and grasping the concepts pretty well! To link to todays lecture slides click here, there were some beautiful examples of stairs by some architects that are well worth researching.

I'll repeat myself again from class, by bringing up Peter Eisenmann's "Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe" - I think this monument really taps into the idea we have been exploring of capturing the essence of a word or an idea... There are many words/ideas Eisenmann would have had in mind whilst designing this place, and without being literal manages to conjure a sense of uncertainty, loss, disorientation, fear, unfamiliarity and change. If any of you have the chance to visit Berlin I highly recommend you don't miss this place - very sobering and very important in showing the power of architecture.

 
Use the time between now and next week to get all the requirements so far (18 sketch sections + 2 screenshots from Sketchup) uploaded to your blog as well as this weeks requirements (8 stair sections sketches (two sections for each stair) + 2 screen shots of the new Skecthup model which should featuring a staircase). You're all off to a good start with the 3D models, just make sure you develop your model as more than a mere extrusion of your sketch section. Click here for the specific requirements for next week.

I'll leave you with an excerpt from a book by Austin Kleon 'Steal Like an Artist';

"You're ready. Start making stuff. You might be scared to start. That's natural. There's this very real thing that runs rampant in educated people. It's called 'Imposter Syndrome'. It means that you feel like a phony, like you're just winging it, that you really don't have any idea what you're doing. Guess what: None of us do. Ask anybody doing truly creative work, and they'll tell you the truth: They don't know where the good stuff comes from. They just show up to do their thing. Every day."

Keep sketching. Keep modelling.

Cheers,
Chris

Before Studio: Week 02

Hi guys,

Please bring your laptops as well as your moleskins to tomorrows studio.

If you haven't already please make sure you've uploaded your 18 sketches and your screen shots of your 3D model so far.

See you in studio
Chris

Recap: Week 01

Hi all,

You can download a copy of lecture one to review by clicking here.

As you all know, todays task was to create 18 sketch sections "exploring the relationship between two of the projects you chose and the ground line as a datum". I know some of you were a little overwhelmed by the abstract nature of this task, but fear not... that is mostly the point! Architects view the world differently to everybody else, I promise that by the end of first year you will be seeing the world through new eyes, and once you have these new eyes, you will never look at anything the same again! However, seeing the world differently doesn't happen magically - tasks that focus on thinking abstractly will help you to see the world [and architecture] in the way that is different to how everyone else see's it.

A couple of pointers to keep in mind for your sections;

SECTION:No matter how beautiful your drawings are, if you are not focusing on the idea of exploring a section, you're heading down the wrong path, keep on track and keep it to sections [for now at least]. Think about how a section allows you to better understand the relationship of spaces that might not be understood without a section. Think back to the Pantheon which Russell touched on in his lecture... for all it's beauty, this is a space that cannot be truly understood without a section.

 

Remember to treat your hatching as a means to express the difference between solid and void. Perhaps you will use denser hatching to show very solid and loose hatching to show not very solid, or you may use a consistent hatch - whatever the choice, take pride in your hatching and undertake it with care. Space lines evenly. If your lines are supposed to be in the same direction, make sure that they are.

DATUM (above ground or below?):
An area where many were heading off track was by drawing "objects" - an object does not have a relationship with a datum (if datum is a difficult concept for you, think of the surface of the ground as being a datum, however a datum is not restricted to being the ground line). Each of your sketch sections should have a distinct below ground space and a distinct above ground space. How your sketch interacts with the datum is up to you... are you entirely above, or entirely below, or are you exploring the relationship both above and below at the same time?

An easy way to judge if you've heading off track:- look at your drawings, could you easily switch the sketch at the bottom with the sketch at the top with little consequence? A below ground space should only belong at the bottom of the page, if not, you're probably still drawing objects!

ABSTRACT YOUR IDEAS:Remember, we're not looking for you to draw a literal interpretation of each of your chosen words. You should try to tap into the essence of the word or the idea of the word. I don't need to be able to identify what your word was just by looking at the sketch, but once I know the word, it should suit the sketch drawn. Sharp lines for an aggressive adjective and soft, gentle curves for a gentle adjective are easy ones, but try to explore the grey are between these extremes.

If you find this part difficult, try breaking your word down - what does this word actually mean? What are its synonyms? What feelings or emotions does this word evoke? What sort of lines would I draw if I was feeling that emotion?

If you're still struggling look to the James Kim slide from the lecture notes, however keep in mind we want to explore your creativity.

Cheers
Chris

Sketchup

Hi all,

As you know, you're task to complete before next week is to develop one of your sections created in class in three dimensions with Sketchup Make. Sketchup has an incredibly fast learning curve and in addition to this, there are a series of tutorials you should complete before you jump into creating your 3D model of your section.

Download Sketchup Make here: https://www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-make

The "Getting Started" tutorials are here: http://www.sketchup.com/learn/videos/58
These tutorials will teach you the "tools": http://www.sketchup.com/learn/videos/60
If you still want to know more you may opt to also undertake some more advanced tutorials but these won't be essential to get you underway: http://www.sketchup.com/learn/videos/80

I suggest you pace yourself with the tutorials - don't leave them to the last minute or you'll be cramming and the results will show in your work!

Cheers
Chris

Student Blogs

Hi everyone,

Please use the comments section of this post to let me know the address of your blog, I will then link to everyone's blog from my blog.

Please ensure to have all 18 of your sketch sections posted to your blog before next weeks class. If you want me to take one last look at your sections before you begin putting your one chosen section into sketchup, ensure that you have your sections uploaded (even if it is not all eighteen) no later than 12:00 noon this Friday 11/03 as that will be your last chance.

Cheers,
Chris