Architecture Class: Glass

Glass has always fulfilled it's most basic function through providing reflections or becoming windows. It wasn't until recently in the twentieth century when glass was finally being considered and used as a building material for the creation of structures. The first extensive use of glass in buildings was first developed by the Romans. Through the combination if cast and wrought iron, then later steel, the glass could become a building material and be used in the development of glasshouses, market halls, arcades, and other structures as well. For example in the Sainte Chapelle in Paris it contains so many stained windows that it gives off the vibe that heaven is this city of light. Norman Foster, a renowned architect, fulfilled the The Modernist dream of an all-glass curtain in 1975. The name of the building was the Willis Faber Dumas Building in Ipswich, England. Through glass the transparency effect has been achieved because it gave a way of revealing the "truth" in the structure.

"Broken Glass"

Architecture Class: Floor

Floors offer a surprising range of expressive opportunities. Not all floors are flat; some can extend beyond the building to form part of a raised platform. An example of when floors are used to help glorify certain pieces of architecture is in the Castelvecchio in Verona. Carlo Scarpa, the architect, designed the floors in a certain way so that the interventions appear to float in the room. Le Corbusier loved to mess with his floors as well especially in his pilgrimage chapel at Ronchamp, but in this scenario the floors were simply used to help enclose a space and provide a foundation above Mother Earth.

With Industrialization and the overall human population progressing, there is now a universal design that demands floors to be flat, horizontal, and free of frequent stepped changes of level. I don’t really like that “universal design” because I feel all parts of an architect’s building should be free-flowing if he feels so, and that one shouldn’t be confined to the simplicity of a blank, horizontal floor canvas. The floor should have life and give meaning either to it, the ground it covers, or even the room it is enclosed in.

Architecture Class: San Francisco Field Trip

On Tuesday of last week Rafael took my class and myself into the heart of San Francisco to see some very unique and beautiful architecture. First we saw Saint Mary's Church which is quite the architectural piece to come across. The building is formed into the shape of a cross, yet its sides curve inward and finally meet at the peak. The building was amazing from outside but even better from within. Once I was in I saw how the light hit the walls, how the walls seemed to endlessly reach towards the sky, and the enormous organ only 30 yards from me. The next building we saw was the Saint Ignatius Church which was also very beautiful to look at. From the outside there are four pylons reaching towards the heavens and the church itself is highly decorated, yet even more so from within the building itself. For the S.I. Church a lot of Roman ideas were used such as columns and flat roofs. I really liked this a lot because it felt as if I were returning to ancient Rome and happened to wander into a church built by them.

Architecture Class: Haikus

Instead of our normal reviews of others projects Rafael has instead chosen for us to write haikus. Haikus are Japanese poems that contain a 5-7-5 verse, where the numbers count as the number of syllables allowed per verse. I actually really prefer to write these haikus because they are very easy to write, but contain a lot of meaning through the usage of very few words. I feel that it has also helped my vocabulary as well because I constantly have to find new, better words to express myself and the ideas that I have or have seen. At first I felt a little weird and silly writing these strange poems  but I've grown to like them and find a new way of expressing my ideas. I like this exercise a lot as well because it forces me to practice my vocabulary. 

Architecture Class: Community Pool

Today in class Rafael gave us the task of creating a community pool area somewhere in RWC. Our pool needed to be easily accesible, but had to be created in a legitimate spot in RWC, and needed to flow with the surrounding area as well. As I began the construction of my community pool I first thought back to my time in Mexico. I remembered that in the resort's pool they had a lazy river which slowly but steadily brought people all around the pool continuously. I wanted the river to be somewhat of the main aspect of the pool because I wanted it as a spot where those that valued piece and tranquility can have it at their leisure. I included a waterfall as well, that contains a secret room behind the falls, because I know that kids love fantasy and secret things so the waterfall seemed to fit the perfect adventure for kids to be a part of. Personally I liked this scenario a lot because I was able to design a fun, happy place for people of all ages to relax and enjoy.

Architecture Class: 2nd Day Back!

Today in class Rafael spoke about the pyramids, the Egyptian culture, and the overall effect they had on the progression of architecture. I've always loved Egyptian culture because it's always left those, including me, whenever examining the pyramids or other unique relics. What I really liked was that even though the design of the pyramid is very simple, seeing the 500ft tall monument in person can truly make one feel small. Egypt is so important, especially to architecture, because they are one of the very first empires to really use architecture on a monumental scale. The construction of these pyramids truly details the beginning steps, the foundation, in which us humans began our architectural journey. All the way up until the present. The pyramids may seem a sight for sore eyes, but one must realize that without this wonder of the world we wouldn't be where we are today.

~Giza Pyramid, Egypt~

Architecture Class: San Jose Field Trip "Museum of Innovation"

This was our second field trip of this semester and today we ventured into the heart of San Jose. We saw many buildings there such as the Repertory Theater, MLK Library, City Hall, and finally the Museum of Innovation. The museum was my favorite building because I've been there several times over my life, but I never once stopped and admired the architecture. At this point in time when we analyzed the building I noticed that its color, a radiant orange, made it stick out from the rest of the city which I found truly fascinating. One can't truly admire the architecture without viewing the inside because the amazing architecture continues living on in the interior of the structure. The architect, Ricardo Legorreta, took astounding detail into the creation of this building because although the exterior is impressive, the interior is amazing.

                                    -"The Museum of Innovation (a.k.a. the Tech Museum)"-
 

Architecture Class: Bridge-House

Today in class Rafael gave us the scenario of constructing a house that serves two purposes: to be a place to live in and be a bridge as well. When I first created this house I was unsure of how to put two and two together, but after contemplating for a while I came up with my finalized idea of having a house atop a bridge that hung over a lake underneath it. I felt that I achieved the idea and solution that Rafael was looking for, but instead told me of how I didn't unite the two. I did the exact opposite. He said they needed to be in unison and that the bridge and house should work together as one. I now understand that the idea is a bridge inside of a house, such as the below picture. The two need to work together and be able to coincide as well.

        -"I don't divide architecture, landscape and gardening; to me they are one"- Luis Barragan

 

Architecture Class: Casa Mila

Today Rafael showed the class a video concerning the construction and the story behind the elegant building Casa Mila. I personally find this to be one of my most favorite structures so far because the outside is painted a magnificent stone, as well with the interior causing its inhabitants to assume they are in a cave. There is a bit of artificial light in the building, but quite a lot of natural light as well because the architect, Antoni Gaudí, constructed two huge gaps in the building that have nothing but the open air. I really love these additions because it makes this building truly unique. Another thing that I love about Gaudí is that he focuses on every little detail, he doesn't just create the building, he is the interior designer as well. From every column, to staircase, to even the doors he made sure everything was personalized. If I'm an architect one day I hope to possibly follow the methods of Gaudí.

                                 -"Copiers do not collaborate"- Antoni Gaudí
 

Architecture Class: Stanford Field Trip "Memorial Church"

Visting the Memorial Church at Stanford University was our first stop, and also one of my favorite buildings we saw there. When looking at the outside of the church one notices simplicity and complexity compliment one another because the the fasad of the church is impressive, but one can not comprehend the elegance of this building without entering it. As we entered the church a wave of awe and hush came upon me because the building's interior was beautiful. What I truly enjoyed about this building was the amount of architecture that was put into it, but also the peace and tranquility that was apart of the church as well. No one spoke, only the architecture spoke through the beautiful pillars, banisters, and arches that made up the structure. Because of architecture a holy and respectful tone echoed the halls. Something I found personally interesting about this church was the impressive, large organ that sat just above the entrance to the fasad.

                            -"Memorial Church at Stanford University"-

 

Architecture Class: Large Project

For the past two weeks my group and I have been working on our large project which is to construct a school. At first I thought this would be a piece of cake since I knew only the basics of architecture, but after listening to Rafael's lectures and all the information he bestowed upon us I realized it is much easier said then done. This project is forcing my mind to think outside the box because I have to take everything into account from sun protectors to the orientation of the building, and much more. Architecture is much more then just math and drawings, it requires ones mind to force its creative section to work its hardest and create an outstanding building. Of everything we've done so far I have to say the large project, which is still a work in progress, is my favorite because of the countless variables we have to take into account in order to ensure this building is top notch yet beneficial as well.

                                                         -"Back to School"-

Architecture Class: Small Floating Theater

In this scenario Rafael gave us the idea of a small floating theater that we had to construct on paper and provide legitimate reasons for the actions we took. This scenario in particular was especially entertaining because it provided a problem that we had to answer, but it was no easy task. I care a lot about beauty when constructing any type of architecture on paper and I made sure to try and make this theater beautiful as well. This project was hard because the building needed to serve its basic function as a structure and theater, but I wanted it to be beautiful as well. When constructing something on a small scale, I find it harder to add beauty to it because one has a limited amount of resources and one must ensure that the form of the building follows its function as well. I had to think about the shape of the building, the floor design, windows, etc. I was forced to think in many different and creative ways to create the building I envisioned. This wasn't the easiest task for me to complete, but I enjoyed the exercise because it opened up a closed section of my mind.

                      "Film on the Rocks Yao Noi Film Festival - Thailand 2012"

Architecture Class: Sunset House

The task given to our class today was the creation of a house that had a beautiful sunset when you were in the house. I really enjoyed this assignment because before even drafting my building I sat for a while, just contemplating what I needed and didn't need to include in the building. I was forced to think in many different ways, which I appreciate because I usually don't think in that manner. I needed to think about windows, the view, the environment, sunlights, natural light, etc. It wasn't easy coming up with the idea in that 30 minute time period, but I was able to crank out an acceptable structure that met the standards I set. This wasn't my best work, but I really liked the exercise since I had to truly force my mind to think about architecture and think in manners that I usually don't focus on.


                          "When the sun has set, no candle can replace it." -George R.R. Martin

Architecture Class: "Why Architecture Matters"

As I read my three required pages in the book "Why Architecture Matters", by Paul Goldberger, I learned of the three necessary components in architecture which are: firmness, delight, and commodity. I learned of how all of these components are interdependent as well because they can all stand alone, but in order for architecture to be successful it requires all three to work in unison. Another thing I learned is that architecture can be art, yet also not art at the same time. Architecture in its base form is to provide us shelter, but it also is somewhat like a painting because it is to be admired and beautiful. I completely agree with this statement because my home, for instance, provides a great shelter for my family and me but it provides no beauty. Not all architecture has to be beautiful or amazing. It can simply serve the basic functions and necessites of a family. I care more for beauty then just function when it comes to architecture, but through reading this book I've learned that architecture is much more then just a pretty structure. It serves everyone in different ways.

                                                    --"firmness, delight, and commodity"--
  

Architecture Class: Day 2

Today in class we learned about a very fascinating structure known as the "Bauhaus".  I found the Bauhaus very interesting because it contains a lot of history and is also a beautiful building itself. Walter Gropius imagined an environment where students could learn architecture and gain further knowledge through the Bauhaus, which I find truly amazing because this edifice was the FIRST school in the world that was dedicated to teaching architecture. At first glance the Bauhaus failed to impress my standards, but after hearing of its history with the Nazi party and the goals that the Bauhaus had for its students I saw a new light on this structure and realized both its beauty and significance. I learned today that appearance isn't everything when it comes to architecture; the symbolism tied along with it serves a greater purpose as well.                                  
                                                   --"form follows function"--