Pictures of the Day] Drawings at 1/8" = 1'-0" is ridiculous. On the other hand, feeding a horse is worse.
Mood] Delirious. Spring fever.
Weather] High 68 Degrees. Sunny and clear.
Currently] In the cube.
Quote of the day: "I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way."
So we had a quick pin up for 75% which turned out to not be as big of a deal as they worked it up to be. We talked a bit about structure, and how it effected the building, but because I didn't have a solid plan really there was no conversation about structure. The structure for my building has always been very straightforward. Now I need to focus on how to think about the "skin" of the building. The "skin" is referring to the facade, the envelope, the system that sort of wraps around the building and not only gives it its outer appearance, but also enhances the relationship between the public and the private spaces. This will take research I think, and distinguishing also what important factors need to be emphasized. It could be that I focus on only all the northern facing parts of the building. It could be that I look at how two systems could work together. I am not sure yet, but that is definitely the next step. I am working toward getting a solid plan down, so hopefully I will be done with it tonight (my professor dictated that I need to be).
For my Vernacular Landscape class, I went to Wagner Farm, which is a pretty cool place. You can check out their website at wagnerfarm.org. Basically it is a farm that is now preserved by the park district of Glenview. There is an old barn, some animals like cows and horses and a even a pig (which I sadly did not see). The most important part though was the lay of the land. You can tell even now, how the land must have been used before all the developments began around it. There are flat portions for farming, a huge hill for grazing that led to a sort of draining ravine, and other pockets of space for a cloister of buildings. For the most part, it is just a nice place to bring children for some play on old tractors and educate them about the different elements of the farm. I enjoyed it. I fed a horse, which was one of the most exciting things I think I've done for a while. I was so scared it was going to bite me, that I tried to pull away at the last minute and the horse took my whole hand in its mouth. GROSS!!!!!! Then I dropped the apple slice I was trying to feed it, so I picked it up again and offered it again. The 2nd time, the horse picked it up from my palm with its lips. They were huge horses too because they were draft horses. It was neat though! I can check that off my life list.
Now it's back to work and drawing up some more diagrams to figure out where the heck I'm going with my project! The end is definitely in sight! Spring is up and lively and there is WORK to be done!
Have a fantabulous day!
~Jaye
Pictures of the Day] My set of drawings for Midterm Review. They were okay. :/ Very unorganized.
Mood] Highly stressed.
Weather] High 50 Degrees
Currently] In my room.
Quote of the day: "Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else."
It is really difficult for me sometimes to feel as though what I'm not doing is work. I enjoy a lot of what I do, but it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. There always seems to be something more to do and with that, comes a lot of stress. I guess I just have to keep reminding myself that there's a reason why I enjoy doing this, why I see that what I am doing is important. I have to look back a lot of the times at the accomplishments of those before me and feel that same awe like when you're a child and you inhabit a place for the first time, experience the amazement that proportion/scale can bring, and enjoy the beauty that light has in a space. So many of these elements are taken for granted, and I really wish that I could be more conscious of them all the time.
The 50% review was difficult. I was the first to go, and I have never gone first in any presentation before, so I really had a hard time getting started. I am not normally too nervous of a speaker. Once I get going, then I find a way to keep moving, but I kept on getting tripped up by words. Words are something that I also think people take for granted. We use words so differently now than we did before. In architecture, as in any other practice, the use of words is very important to really communicate exactly what you mean to say. We also have a completely different set of vocabulary words that parallels words typical to every day conversation, but have totally different meanings. Homophones if you will. Usually they are adjectives. I would give an example now, but I am very tired and my brain is overtaxed! So sorry. Just trust me though. It's true.
Back to the 50% review. I received a decent response. Some of the condensed comments/suggestions that I received are:
1> Can the circulation inside & outside relate to one another?
2> Form a hierarchy
3> Can interaction spaces vary in size based on the program?
4> What is the relationship between the two communal areas (garden and multi-purpose room)
5> Is the rigidity obstructive?
6> Is there another axis that can be developed?
7> Think beyond the classrooms. Like the small components of the classrooms, can you apply to a larger scale?
8> Can classrooms vary based on program?
9> What is a garden?
10> How do you collect light and diffuse it?
11> What is the public/private relationship?
12> Does the axis mirror materiality or vice versa?
13> Find depth in layering organization
14> Beware visual relationships of diagrams on the layout
15> Clean, clear diagrams are essential. Reduce reduce reduce.
16> Test size of images & lineweight
17> Always edit the story. Constantly revise the drawings.
18> Use colour accordingly
19> For sections, cut through the organization spaces
20>Always keep reviewers in mind
21> BEWARE! Misinterpretation of ideas!
Certainly a lot to think about, eh? I will be going back and revising my whole concept I think based on a new view. For now, sleeeep.
Overworked and underpaid,
~Jaye
P.S. Watched Boondock Saints II: All Saint's Day during spring break. AMAZING. A slightly different style than the first, and of course, the actors were 10 years older and LOOK IT, but still very entertaining.
Pictures of the Day] My set of drawings that I submitted and will DEFINITELY be revising for the final 50% Midterm Presentation (Will post later. Having some troubles uploading)
Mood] Stressed!!!! But pleasant?
Weather] High 45 Degrees
Currently] Front Desk
Quote of the day: "When you drink the water, remember the spring."
I think you get to a certain time in the semester where you are entirely burned out with everything. I am definitely feeling it. I have been working really hard on trying to figure out what to do for my 50% review, and I am so worn. I have gone through several drafts, but nothing seems to be good enough. I will have to work through spring break to finish my work. I have come up with an idea of what I need to get done too.
Mechanical and Electrical Building Systems homework
Structural Concrete Analysis homework
Vernacular Landscape homework
Ecological Basis of Planning Research Report
Revising all the drawings for studio
Making 1-2 models for studio
That is the plan. I have to clean up and pack before I go home though,s o i need to make sure that I have all the materials I need for my studio project. I need to compose two models over the break and that is going to be a doozy. I think I might go by Michael's and buy some materials. I really want to spend time with my family and my friends though, so I want to get my homework out of the way. I have a sneaking suspicion I will be doing it throughout the week. I have to lug sooo much stuff back home!
At least the weather is getting better though so I can switch out my wardrobe and only keep a few sweaters here to make sure I can stay warm. I really hope things get pretty. Campus is livening up. There is more green than white now! I'm so excited.
Signing out,
~Jaye
Picture of the Day] Morton's Steak House! We had some awesome food and the atmosphere was VERY interesting.
Mood] Full!Currently] At the front desk.
Weather] WHY DID I WEAR A DRESS AGAIN!?Quote of the day: "Who is rich? He that is content."
So my boyfriend told me about something called Restaurant Week and I am SO glad that I found out! This week only over a hundred restaurants in Chicago are participating! What they do is select a specific menu with maybe some options on it. Then, you pay a reduced price to have this meal! The goal is kind of to allow people to test all different kinds of restaurants and figure out which ones they like best. I think it's an awesome idea because then it allows people to eat within their means and broaden their horizons.
The restaurant that I went to was participating in this event, so I was very pleased with the meal!!! Morton's Steakhouse is an interesting setting. You walk in through what looks like an office building. Then, through a large wooden door down into a basement, where the restaurant is situated. Framed photos, magazine articles/reviews, and caricatures line the walls. There is a coat check and cubbies that look like wine holders in a cellar. The lighting is dim and the tables all have very strange pig-shaped castings as candle holders. Overall, the atmosphere almost seemed more like a secret club than anything. It was good service though and the food was amazing!
For my meal, I had:
- Bacon crusted fresh bread with butter- Morton's Salad (Blue cheese dressing, ice berg and romaine lettuce tossed with egg)
- Filet Mignon (Medium Rare. BEAUTIFUL. It was perfectly done.)
- Crispy sour cream and bacon topped Potato Skins (So good!)
- Creme Brulee for dessert with a cup of coffee! (ZOMFG MY FAVOURITE)
He had the same, except for:
- Mashed Potatoes
- Chocolate Mousse for dessert with a cappuccino!
It was AMAZING, and at almost half the price, so I was thoroughly pleased! I think that my boyfriend and I are totally going to go out some more if I can manage with the work load to try some more of the places before this week is over! I'll keep you updated!
Good food and good company. :)
~Jaye
Pictures of the Day] The delicious food and Japanese restaurant named Oysy, on Michigan Avenue, just off of the Roosevelt stop!
Mood] Romancy!
Weather] COLD. WHY DID I WEAR HEELS!?
Currently] In my room
Quote of the day: "Perhaps the feelings that we experience when we are in love represent a normal state. Being in love shows a person who he should be."
Valentine's Day came after a very hectic Camras Weekend, but it was super fun! It happened to also fall on Chinese New Year this year, so I had a lot to celebrate. I wish that my family could have been up in Chicago with me, but I'll see them soon. Chinatown had an awesome parade that I wanted to go to, but just had a little bit too much work to catch up on, so I had to focus on getting that done instead. There's always next year though! This year was Year of the Tiger and I was born in the Dragon year, so when that comes, I'll be super excited to celebrate.
Although I did not get to spend time with my family, I did spend time with my boyfriend. We dressed up and went on a very nice date to a Japanese restaurant called Oysy (http://www.oysysushi.com/), which translates to "delicious" or "tastey" in English. We had some awesome sushi and small plates of food! I even got a complimentary glass of champagne, which was very nice. The architecture of the space was also great. The high ceiling dipping away to the bar was a bit unusual, as if it were an aside, but it was brightly coloured on the inside (lime! One of my favourite colours), and had metal detailing with bright lights. The most interesting part were the chairs to the bar and the booth seats. The bar stools were low-backed and the booth seats were made of a bamboo looking wood, probably a veneer. Overall, the mood was welcoming and bright.
Arizona Summer: Tuna tempura, yellowtail, cilantro, masago, green pepper, avacado, chili oil, spicy sauce, and lime juice
California Sunset: Crab meat, avacado, mayo and cucumber, topped with seared salmon, ikura and miso dressing
Chicken Teriyaki: Grilled chicken breast with sweet teriyaki sauce
Lotus Root stuffed Chicken Tempura: Lotus Root stuffed with Chicken and deep fried in light Japanese batter
I am definitely very happy and will hopefully be going there again soon!That's your food and architecture update for today!
~Jaye
Picture of the Day] Camras Event type awesome! Above I'm working the VanderCook Table at the Student Resource Fair. This fair is for prospective students to see exactly what IIT can offer in the way of athletics, financial aid, Union Board, ROTC, Spiritual Life, etc...
Mood] Excited
Weather] Not too bad. Sunny and brisk.
Currently] At the Front Desk
Quote of the day: "They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."
So Camras was super fun! We had a huge turn-out and it was awesome to see so many of the people that I had just heard good things about. Perlstein was pretty much packed with people walking around and talking with us Student Ambassadors and the counselors. We checked everyone in bright and early and then spent a lot of the time just going to have lunch in the Commons, leading them to their interviews, and hanging out in general. Everyone looked really pristine too! The guys were dressed up nice for their interviews, wearing full suit and everything. A lot of the current Camras Scholars helped out for the event too, working the baggage room etc...
There was actually a student panel that I Was not a part of (sadness), but I heard went very well. Parents and students love to go to the student panel to really talk to the current students about their extra curriculars on campus and what life is like in Chicago.
I had a fun time actually at the parent reception. I hadn't been there before, and it was quite nice to see all the parents of the students since the students were out on the Pizza Dinners. We had a lot of yummy desserts, drinks, and bite sized snacks as we talked just from table to table, answering questions that the parents thought up. They were all really fun.
I think the best part of Camras Weekend was really being able to show the prospective students how much the campus comes alive with all the fun things that our student body is so proactive to do! The Quad had a ton of things going on and the BOG was having IIT Idol Finals, so that was packed. Overall, a great weekend.
Signing off,
~Jaye
Pictures of the Day] Montessori school setting! This is the classroom that they work in.
Mood] Aware
Weather] Sunny and cold!
Currently] In my room
Quote of the day: "Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds."
So our studio's project this semester is a Montessori school. We visitted one up north in Lake Forest to get an idea of what the school and its philosophy promotes. Basically the Montessori way of learning to envelop a student in a living working environment where they have free reign to complete what is known as "work cycles". Basically the classroom is packed with tools for students to research on their own, beads to learn mathematics, play kitchen materials to practice life skills and more. The child is expected to find some point of interest and to work for three hours before breaking and then if the child does the whole day, then they will complete another cycle after the break. The Montessori school that we visitted looks like the classroom is divided into little pockets. Each small portion of the classroom focuses on one thing, like art or reading, etc... I think it's actually an awesome idea. What the teachers we talked to really emphasized was the ability of students to really jump in to things on their own without being prompted. The teachers act more like guides and just provide the materials that the children need to learn with or desire to play with.
The Montessori school program that we were given in class is divided into classrooms, administrative areas, and possibly gardens. When we visitted though, we found that this was not the case. There were classrooms, but like I said, they all had the different subjects within them. So instead of having one library for all students, each classroom had its own library inside. It was very in teresting to see their interactions.
We started focusing on how to design and organize the spaces differently to match with an idea that we wanted to explore. I thought that the philosophy of learning interested me the most, so I began to develop a way to organize the space based on the different learning types. Kinesthetic, visual, and auditory learners need to have different environments to be able to work in otherwise they can not be very productive. By taking that into consideration, I was able to look at the site that we were given and start to isolate factors and create conditions that would respond to these different portions of the site. What I wanted to do was to create a set of rules based on how the site effected the way of learning that I wanted, how it would be detrimental and how it would be beneficial.
I made a TON of models, so there are way too many pictures. They all describe program and site ideas. Here are some of them:
I really enjoy visitting the sites because it gives me an idea of what I could be working with and what examples there are in the real world. :)
That's all exciting for now
~Jaye
