Library tour

It's always a different experience to be able to see the building and walk through the different spaces than just seeing the floorplans. Being able to walk around the library helped me get a better understanding of the problems. Also, the chips and salsa were great while discussing the library further!

According to the reading, architects were once seen as master builders who possessed various skills. They worked on everything from the design to the construction of a building.  Over time architects have lost their touch of being a master builder. Architect's role is vital to a building as discussed in the last writing, but it is no longer the architecture that was seen so long ago.

It has been broken down into very specific branches such as engineering, construction, and material scientist. This may be the cause for people believing that architects only design and that their job can be done by anyone. Yes, architects do develop the design of the building and then pass it on to engineers and so on. Every person involved in the design and construction plays a specific, detailed role in the process.  However, this does not mean that an architect has completely lost his or her touch and ability to create what he or she envisions although I does complicate it.

As mentioned in the reading, master builders were able to carry out the process of a building from beginning to end. This allowed for the architects to carry out their design the way they envision it from the beginning because they were able to make all the decisions. The breaking down of careers into specific branches has created a disconnect between the architects and what he or she has envisioned for the design. The design is passed down, and changes are made accordingly so that the building is structurally supported and follows codes. Unfortunately, the disconnect between the people in these different careers has increased more.

I believe that architects entail a basic understanding of the job of the engineer and builder, but just as an architect specializes in his or her field so does the engineer and builder. This basic understanding, or great understanding for some, allows for an architect to think more about the structural part of a building rather than just design. This understanding distinguishes an architect from an everyday person. However architects cannot do an engineer's job just as an engineer cannot do an architect's job.  The separation of careers and focus that each one has is too detailed to be specialized in both. Engineers, architects, and builders learn similar things yet are so different in specialization.

The craft and skills that master builders held was and still is admired. Even today architects strive to be as skilled as possible by picking up minors while in school in other specializations. However, the way today's education is geared it is too difficult for one to specialize in various branches. An architect goes through so much schooling, but can only do so much. The necessity of an engineer and builder will not go away just as the necessity for an architect will neither.

Like said before, this does not be little an architect of today. Architects are able to focus more on the design and process that a building undergoes. Although they have budgets and limitations, architects find solutions and ways around the complications to be able to design to the best of their ability.

   Source: http://bgwallpaper.net/architecture-blueprint-of-a-house-wallpaper-architecture-blueprint-hd/

The library we chose that was built after 1995 is the Chingquing library. It is a modern library with curtain walls and a shallow pool on its sides. The library built before 1995 is Chapel Hill Public Library. Chapel Hill Public Library has had a couple of additions and remodels but it was first built before 1995.

Improving the project

Our cicada is finally done and placed on the skywalk where the sun can shine on it. An idea to improve the project may be to design a different animal after the first one we put together. The first one could be used to see how the connections work, and then the intermediate model could be to see if the new design works and the corrections needed.

Cicada coming together

Our cicada is coming along great. We had to sand a couple of slots so that they would slot together better. Tonight we are going to buy the paint and make it into out own abstract cicada. We are thinking white and yellow!

The ranch

Alicia and me went out to the ranch this morning to turn in our tests, do the walk through, and start cutting. Some mistakes were found with our file, so it took us a while to fix it. We had to make the diameter of the circles added .01 bigger than the bit we intended to use. Eventually we fixed everything and left our wood cutting. We were told it would take about two to three hours, so we will be picking it up tomorrow and hopefully assembling it. Hopefully we accounted for everything correctly and don't have to re-cut. However, if we do have to fix something we accounted for enough time!

After doing our intermediate model, we know that we have a lot of work to do with the joints. Some of our joints were not scaled correctly therefore making our model flimsy. We know that up scaling our cicada would create a problem with the wings and the body, so we have to design a couple of more pieces to help stabilize it. Making our cicada three times bigger will make the wing span about three feet, so i'm excited to put our final together and see how huge it is over all.

The difference between Architecture and architecture is completely based on the perspective of an individual. Different definitions have been developed through time as architecture evolves.

I see Architecture as the development and design of a space. It can be as little as a house to as big as an entire community. Buildings do not just appear from night to day. There is so much more behind the walls and roof. The architect team on the project has to develop ideas with the clients' budget, needs, and wants. Several design schemes can be developed and also rejected, but this entire process to me is Architecture- not only the end result. It does not matter what size or codes have to be followed. Residential firms still create Architecture because homes have to be developed in the same way. Yes, homes are not as time consuming as commercial projects, but they still require a team to develop a design. Over the summer I interned with a residential firm, and although the design team did not have a licensed architect, Architecture was still being created. There was the process with the audit, construction documents, build of materials etc. - these steps are the work of Architecture.

In addition, architecture with a lowercase a is what an everyday person sees. It is the house they live in, the building they walk through, what they see on the exterior etc. Someone who has not studied architecture is not aware of the process of the building itself. They may think a building looks nice and the architects' purpose behind it was only aesthetics. However, you and me both know that there is a reason for everything. We all know that if it is not needed, unless the budget allows for it, then it will be cut from the project. Also, they may not think of a community as Architecture as a whole. The sidewalks have to all coincide and be thought out, the parks have to be designed to best fit the community, and many other things that an Architect can also develop.

Refabricating Architecture states that everyone involved in the development is the architect in Architecture- with a capital A. However, I do not coincide with the idea that the client is also the architect. Their contribution is merely the budget, their preference, and their need; this is only the beginning of the process. The long hours and perfection are met by the architects themselves when the deadline comes around. I do agree that engineers play a significant role in architecture, but this does not make them the architect. They work with what the architect has already designed. If the engineer says something does not work, then the architect makes the changes required.  Ships  and planes are their own type of design- not architecture. The suggestion of architects following their design process is a good point. After all as imaginative and creative as architects can be, they always steal ideas and incorporate them into their own design.

I had an awesome first day, and I know I will really enjoy your class. I am definitely enjoying this first project although it will be challenging to make the bigger model stand on it's own. And the wings will be fun, difficult to keep up, but fun!