Week 9: Parking Structures

What are your opinions on parking structures? Do you consider them a waste of space? Even if you do, they still however are a necessity due to the reliance on cars (for at least certain areas of the world).

Argumentatively, parking is just a waste of space. This argument is taken up by another article from USGBC+, "Smart Park" written by Mary Grauerholz. (Read HERE, p32)

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Based on the picture above: what is that luscious green park doing in the middle of the city? 

Answer: It's hiding a parking garage!

Actually though... it is. :D

This is a picture of the Post Office Square Parking Garage, located in Boston. It is a well-ventilated underground parking garage, and atop is a nice space for a park, where space other than for car storage can actually be utilized. Measures were taken when designing the underground parking facility in order to ensure the reduction of pollution inside the facility, as well as measures to ensure safety against high levels of carbon monoxide. 

The park featured above (as you can tell from the picture) has TREES! This helps reduce carbon dioxide in the air. The park itself also decreases stormwater runoff, and also helps increase property value of the nearby spaces. It's a well-rounded benefit to all!.  

In a more subjective manner, I feel like this park is a nice addition to the urban cityscape of its surroundings, just based off of the picture presented from above.

Here below (cred) was the original parking place

Renovations were done, and the final green park was opened in 1990. 

I feel like the renovations gave the city a breath of fresh air (no pun intended) and a nice space to use for leisure or even work. 

Week 9: Biology in Design

Biomimicry: "an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies." (Biomimicry Institute)

Like a chameleon? Eh. Kind of. 

More like imitating and using nature's example to help solve our problems. 

Design isn't just for decor. More and more recently, especially in our current-day strive for efficiency and green things, design is purposed to have maximum potential. This topic is inspired and drawn from the article written by Kiley Jacques, "Bio Building" in the USGBC+ Magazine. 

"Biomimicry" basically was coined after Janine Benyus's intense focus upon sustainable innovations mirroring nature. Benyus, a biologist, wrote the book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, and from here melded the world of biology into ... basically all of the other worlds. Engineering, product design, computer industries... Effectively innovating the design of different products, conceptions, and forms, made them much simpler and efficient. 

Drawing from the examples from the article piece, there is an Optistruct software developed by Jeff Brennan for computer-aided design and manufacturing programs. Brennan developed this software with inspiration drawn from bones. The bone-like inspiration helps with supporting structures, as well as lightweighting to reduce material usage. 

There is also paint inspired from lotus leaves (as water molecules roll off the paint surface, they also collect loose dirt). As well as, another type of paint that was inspired by peacock feathers (omits the inclusion of potential toxic pigments). 

Lotus-inspired self cleaning paint (cred)

As buildings now increasingly are developed in order to solve problems greater than living and working space (such as living environment, climate change, gas emissions), there comes a necessity for innovative ideas to develop as well. Not just functional, but also aesthetic. Not just aesthetic, but also functional. In my opinion, I believe that aestheticism is a category within functionality.  

When I asked Lance what his balance was between functionality and aestheticism, he said 80% for function. Basically meaning, function is has the higher priority, although aestheticism is important as well. 

In my opinion, all things natural are naturally aesthetic. It's the goal we are all reaching for. Perfect functionality, and an impeccable design. 

As I requote the quote quoted by Benyus at the end of the article: "The goal is to build cities that are functionally indistinguishable from the wildlife around them. That's true biomimicry."

Check out the original article HERE, on page 28! 


And just for fun, I know I spent an emphasis on the function of biomimicry on this post, but aesthetic-wise for building inspiration, biomimicry is pretty great: 

Singapore's durian fruit-inspired building (cred)

(although technically called the Esplanade Theatre, I do know that locals nickname it the durian haha!)

Mercedes' Bionic Car (cred), modeled after the yellow boxfish (actually this design does serve for better function as well!---apparently it has some great acceleration as well as less emissions) 

Week 9: My Way

It's the most rewarding when things go according to plan. Especially if that plan is the plan you devised yourself.

There are no arguments or uneasy feelings regarding your plan, because it is one that you agree with completely.

In real life, there is no such thing as a plan that is completely "your way".

Even when decorating your own home. You are still constrained with the wall constraints already placed. "I would love to put that table there, but it is in the way of the door".

Maybe this is the part where you say, "...not if your an architeeeeeecttt 😏"

But still.... no. 😅

Architects are still bound by regulations. Regulations by ADA, specifications by clients, constraints by engineers, dilemmas by gravity.

Where did all of the 'power' go? This is the same concept I talked about in Part 3 of Week 6's series: The Box. Vision is what is essential in order to keep the meaning of the architectural profession true.

Because there is bound to be conflict and difference in opinion, to be able to wrap up everyone's input into one big basket, all the while maintaining your sense of identity and work--this is the core of being an architect. If you solely listen to the requests and demands of others, the final product will still be great and functional, but there won't be any meaning, emotion, or drive behind it. This is no different than employing a computer to design your buildings. Problem solvers.

So, vision is essential whilst the efforts in supervising a group effort. "My way"? Our way.

Week 7: Healthy Innovations

In our modern world today, I feel as though we are moving 100 mph. Technology is booming, and new innovations are coming out faster than I can comprehend. (By the time I update my phone, a newer update is waiting for me... again.)

Why is this happening? Because we are striving for efficiency. The maximum amount of work put out, with the least effort put in.

Innovation is generally always seen as improvement. The superdesk featured below is an example of a beautiful innovation.

In New York City, the Barbarian Group's HQ has a "superdesk", designed by Clive Wilkinson Architects. Hmmm... superdesk? Yup. This desk is 4,400 square feet, 1,100 feet long, and has a maximum width of 11.5 feet. It's a desk fit for 170 people!

Video: 

 Photos: 

creds 1 & 2

This desk is to encourage and enable interaction among all of the workers. The arches in the design have seating under them as well, also serving as a quieter, more private discussion area (there's acoustic insulation for privacy). The continuous, 'flowy' design of the desk reflects its purpose to allow 'flowing conversation'.

Innovations like these are what arguably improve our efficiency.

However, sometimes innovations may affect the things that did not even have to be adjusted. This sort of notion was explained in the article "Architecture and Human Behavior: The Place of Environment-Behavior Studies in Architecture" by Gary T. Moore. One example used was senior living spaces.

As time and age takes its toll, to "ease" the elderly's living situations, we would most-likely design modified living spaces, ones with easy accessibility, ultimately providing the most comfort. However, "Strange as is may seem, making the environment easier for the old person to get around in may encourage the elderly to become more dependent and less self-assured." Like going up and down the stairs: once you stop doing it, it's hard to restart. With an "alternative option" readily available, why put yourself through all the trouble?

Some innovations aiming to make life more efficient and easy, might really be detrimental to our health and lifestyle.

Ultimately, innovative architecture isn't to make things "efficient". It is to reveal the best qualities of place (which may sometimes result in more efficiency). All in hopes, that our maximum capabilities may shine through.

Week 7: Safety Zone

The philosophy of architecture is such an intriguing realm.

I argued for my project that architecture gives an effect upon the people that use it.

In an article written by Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, the notion of how architecture is much more than what meets the eye is expressed. I guess you could say that there are politics in architecture; this due to all of the different opinions and philosophies of what architecture means to the architect himself/herself.

In "Architecture, Big-A and Little-a", the AIA Feature article in the February 2015 edition of Architect, the identity of an architect is questioned.

Generally, architects "justify" their job/profession by saying that they keep building from falling down. However, in argument from Victoria Beach, AIA, that reasoning isn't the whole truth. She states, "A computer can do that."

Rather than arguing solely from a logistical standpoint, Beach argues for the addition of meaning. Rather than just the ethics of architecture in "treating your clients well and keeping the public safe", it is also "going beyond the practical constraints and giving your clients more."

She continues on to say something similar to what Lance says as well. She says, "To attempt a work of architecture, you need to also embed the building in the culture in a meaningful way."

Lance told me of a project LEA did, where they used red brick to make the walls of a fire station. This red brick was the same type of brick that used to make up a previously demolished school. With the use of the brick in the new fire station, it now brings about a sense of nostalgia and familiarity to its community.

Back to Beach's thoughts: Training, schooling, testing, and qualifications aren't what compose an architect. "It's what one does with the opportunity a license affords." In other words, in Bev's words: 'it's all about passion.'

     Passion for people, passion for environment, passion for culture, passion for design.

Week 6: (Adventure Time!- Part 4)

PART 4: Secret Level

Congratulations! You've reached the secret level!

But really though, it was like a secret underground cave/space.

Do you remember the video from Part 2? The thing that they were constructing wasn't LEA's building design, it was what was under it. This was all designed by the engineers for the actual water treatment, while what LEA designed was for the workers and visitors (above ground).

So, this hidden, underground block of space that is supposed to be filled with water---isn't. Not yet, at least. So, Lance and I got to go into it!

This big chunk of space with like maaaaassive tubes. And it's all underground. And it's all cement. And you get these cool light rays coming down from up ahead from the 2 openings on either side. And it's so massive. And it's all empty (besides the tubes). And tubes were like hanging down-ish.

It was so cool.

And it's all supposed to be filled with water!! But it wasn't.

Honestly, if it wasn't supposed to be filled with water and become a water treating plant, it would be SUCH a cool space to just be in.

Beyond this secret underground facility, I'll also use Part 4 of this series to share my overall thoughts and observations upon this entire field trip:
     Wow! I really liked it. It's one thing to work in an office, and another thing to go out and 'explore'. With an architectural profession, it's like you get the best of both worlds, both working in and out of the office. (For some people more than others though, depending on your main role in the firm). However, either way, your ideas will get out into 3D, physical form, for a plan that is confirmed and funded.
     I also really enjoyed going onto the construction site. It was definitely a whole 'nother experience to be seeing a construction site from afar (like passing by on a car) than to physical step into one (and wear the vest and the hard hat). Being able to experience all this has allowed me to have more sense into the building that are built. I feel like the beauty of buildings lies in the (I guess) personal touches that must be put into its development. Someone hand-designed this roof. Someone hand-welded this roof together. Someone personally oversaw and inspected this roof for its aestheticism and functionality.
     It's like the maintenance of a handicraft in our technology-driven world. In this aspect, computers, machinery, and technology hold their purpose in aiding the architects, engineers, and constructors. Aiding and assisting, rather than completing and doing. In my opinion, I guess this is why they call architecture an art. An art meaning that it must be cultivated and use thought.
     (On a side note, I'd really like to emphasize the roadrunner I saw (and also the food, because the food was really yummy---it was like a 50% completion celebration, so they had a catered barbecue). But, really, the roadrunner...  It was so cute, and it ran away. I seriously thought that it had a blue tail... And it was a lot smaller than I thought it would be! Maybe, because I picture ostriches when I hear roadrunner... I was going to include a picture on this post, but when I searched it up, I found out that they look kind of scary up close... I'll stick with the cartoon ones)

http://www.clipartkid.com/images/324/road-runner-clip-art-cliparts-co-eNJwF5-clipart.png

Week 6: Adventure Time!- Part 3

PART 3: The Box

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Inside or outside the box? I touched briefly on this in PART 2.

But here's a more concrete example:

Meeting rooms. A room where meetings may be held. This is your box. This is your so-to-say constraint. What's the way around it? Besides site planning, how do we make this meeting room unique? In the PV WRF, LEA designed the meeting rooms to have screen doors. This way, when the days are nice, why not bring your meetings outside?

What about the sun rays? Well actually, the perforated metal ceiling sheets make their way outside as well. This tries to integrate the interior design with the exterior design, allowing a natural flow to occur. The perforated sheets extend for a bit, until then they are replaced with a trellis.

This shade structure on top is a trellis...

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I'm certain of just how old this photograph is, as the trellis when I saw it was definitely not blue. I think it was a sandy color, matching the building... Anyhow: Do you remember my post dedicated to chameleons? I'm guessing we have a Pascal right here!

The client wanted this new expansion to fit in with the existing structures, and now it does through many elements. You have the continuation of the trellis from the ramada in the park, you have the continuation of the split brick walls from the other structures. And, probably others that I am not aware about yet!

The 'box' given isn't the constraining factor a client imposes upon you, it is rather level 1 of where the fun begins.

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