A lull......

Finally, I have a moment of freedom from the torture chamber that is the architecture studio. I spent over 24 hours of my weekend in there. So much for a fun-filled New Orleans weekend!! It wasn't all bad, however; we had plenty of fun talking about movies, music, and commiserating with one another. We even came up with "Fail" music for whenever someone in our studio section does something stupid. (The Fail music is the loser sound from the Price is Right) We also came up with a name for the Architecture Class of 2015: The Happy Masochists.


I've never had to work that hard to complete architectural models.  It was difficult to finish the minimal nine models, but I managed to complete 10 (*Elliot dances in front of his laptop. "Go me! Go me!") I also learned some of the ins and outs of the model-making progress. As I constructed the models, I would turn them over in order to see them from a different perspective. Many times this process would lead to the discovery of a new angle that could completely alter both the model itself and its intentions. The assignment was to create a cube-shaped space that contained a large, medium, and small space. The project was very abstract, so it lead to many different iterations of designs. Many people in my section had amazing models with very well developed concepts. We were also required to work with different types of models; Planar, Frame, and Poche. A planar model is one that conveys the student/architect's concept simply through the use of squares and planes; the model isn't necessarily an actual shape; there are areas through which one can see. Frame models, one of the most frustrating types, involves constructing a wood frame model that depicts each of the required spaces. Poche modeling is pure evil. You basically sculpt spaces out of the cube itself. Just weird.


The critique for our study models was today. Everyone in my studio sections presented their models so that we, along with Professor Ruff, could critique them. My idea for the project was to create a flow and interconnection between the three spaces. Professor Ruff studied my models and told me that while my idea was good (he really liked the flow I was attempting to convey), my spaces were not clearly defined. My task for the next models: work on my craft, as well as the conveyance of my intentions through the model.


Did I mention that people have already started dropping out of architecture school? Yeah, they have. One girl in my section, Nicole, made an amazing model for our first assignment. It was like a Rubik's cube gone wild. The professors gave it general praise. The only negative they had was her craftsmanship, an issue many first year students have. They criticized her use of hot glue, which looks messy when applied to a model. She became upset upon hearing this, and decided to drop the class. Another student in my section apparently failed to complete a single model over the weekend. We would know; we spent over 24 hours in the studio this weekend and he didn't even show up once. When he arrived in class, he frantically attempted to completed a model. I've got to give the guy credit--he has serious skills in completing study models in under 20 minutes.


Since I only got four hours of sleep last night, I'm going to study for an arch history quiz, do my French homework, then go to bed.

Architekton

Today was a HUGE day for me. We received our first architecture studio assignments! Excitement rushed through me as I took the fresh-off-the-copier paper from Professor Ruff. My mind raced, my hands quivered.....

And then my jaw hit floor.

The paper stated as follows:

You are asked to make a construct that measures 9"x9"x9". You are allowed to use one, two, or three materials...intelligently. The materials used may inform the concept, character, and construction of the architekton. Is there an idea about your choice of materials - why those materials, how do they related to each other - do they affect the concept of the construct?

Ok, the first thing I thought was, alright, the first assignment. No sweat, Elliot, you can do this. I read the sheet a second time. Then, another thought: "Wait. What?!" The assignment is so abstract, so open-ended, that one can interpret it in any manner they see fit. The last line hit me in the face like a tiger mauling a zebra: Due: 27 August 1:00...

First of all, I blinked a few times, just to be sure that my eyesight was working properly. I pulled my jaw from the floor and it promptly fell down again. A two day deadline. What in the world. I truly felt like those guys in the Twix commercials: Need a moment? ABSOLUTELY. Nothing the professors said after that registered in my mind. Once class ended, I packed my belongings and drifted (Yes, drifted, because I was just that disconnected) to the bookstore. Still bewildered, I purchased matboard, wooden sticks, and an X-Acto knife for 30 bucks (School expense, so that's on the AmEx. Sorry Mom). Struggling with the gargantuan matboards and sticks, I returned to my room.

I flipped. Completely.

Then, however, I remembered something. I went to an IB school! If I suffered through four years of what truly was the Inferno, then I could survive anything. After convincing the Orientation Leader that my roommate (also an architecture major) and I just had too much homework, I got to work. I currently have an idea sitting on my computer screen (Thanks Google SketchUp!) and am somewhat ready to get to modeling. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that all of the necessary modeling supplies were locked away in my desk, in the architecture building, on the other side of campus. Oh well, guess I'll have to hit it hard tomorrow..

In the words of my fellow IB and architecture school comrade, Taylor Keefer, "welcome to the hazing period of architecture school."

-----The ArchiNerd-----

Skill Crane

Block Breaker

Black contrasting wood

Tulane University - My Home Away from Home

Just thought I'd post a little memento of new beginnings!

You're Gonna Be Bad-Ass

Today was the first day of classes! I woke up at 6:30 AM (totally overestimating the amount of time needed to catch some breakfast and cross campus to get to French) and got the day started. One thing that I'm still not used to, however, despite it being only the first day, are those marvelous breaks I have between classes! This morning I was able to return to my room following French, not having another class until Physics at noon. Today's Physics lessons: basically a reiteration of dimensional analysis, vectors, and velocity. This time around, I actually managed to get a seemingly fantastic professor. He's extremely nice, patient, and thorough in his explanation.


Finally, the moment we've all been waiting for: my first architecture studio class... *Ominous music plays while an angelic choir concurrently sings* Today was mostly an introduction and getting-to-know-you class, so it was pretty informal. I've been paired with Professor Scott Ruff, the coordinator of the Freshman architecture class. He gave us a bit of an overview of what we do, how we're graded, etc. He also digressed a good deal. At one point he explained how patience, creativity, and persistence are all needed to be a successful architecture student. Quote of the Year: After all of the work you've done here as a Tulane architecture student, you're really gonna be good at what you do. You're gonna be BAD-ASS; that's a quote I will keep close to my heart for the next five years! Here's to the future!

-----The ArchiNerd-----
Mayan pyramid
Cube
Extrude top face (3 times or more)
Skill Crane

Add a Dash of Melancholy

Well, I'm all moved in and settled in. The parents are gone, and it's a little sad.... Tomorrow's going to be another busy day!! I'm still a little too sad to really post something good, however, I'll be back tomorrow. 8 o'clock class, here I come.

TED Article from CNN

I found this article about Green design on CNN's site the other day. It's actually pretty interesting, even though the video actually doesn't exactly delve into sustainable design, I think. The video mainly focuses on this performing arts center in Dallas, I believe. Because of the Recession, the client had to cut budgets, and I we all know what that means.... However, when the budgets get cut, the innovation shifts into overhaul! The architects, working closely with the client, designed a theater that can completely transform; balconies and seats can be raised and lowered from the ceiling and can be shifted around at orchestra level. The stage also works in the same way. The stage director, or whatever he's called, can move stage panels and whatnot, to design various kinds of sets; he can choose to create a traditional set, or even go so far as to use the city of Dallas itself as the play's backdrop. If you want to read more, click here. This article made me want to look into this building and its program even further.

"Arriving at Destination" - Says the GPS

We've made it! My parents and I just arrived in New Orleans! Words can't express my feelings as I crossed Lake Ponchartrain and crossed into my new home. I'm sitting here in the hotel room, Mom is dozing--snoring really-- on the adjacent bed, and Dad has gone out to get something to eat--for himself-- ...figures. I found this to be a better time to post, considering that Mom remains in the dark on this blog. She wasn't one of the BIGGEST supporters of me starting this before I got settled in at Tulane. But hey, it's my life, so what the hell. 

As we crossed into the city, the bridge included, many sights tickled my eyes. Unfortunately, Dad was driving "a grande vitesse", so I couldn't get any pictures. However, my memory will serve as my perpetual photo album:

1.  While crossing Ponchartrain, I caught a glimpse of one of the many New Orleanian scars left by Hurricane Katrina. I saw not a bridge, but the segments and remainders of an older one. I could tell where repairs and renovations were being applied to it. It then hit me that the bridge on which we were driving was a more recent facsimile.

2. As we passed into the outskirts of the city, nice houses and apartments drifted by the window. These pristine sights were often interrupted, jarringly at times, by a dilapidated home. Now, these homes obviously weren't shacks; one could tell that said building was once a beauty. This juxtaposition of homes--both inhabited and abandoned-- piqued my interest. These places stirred within me these ideas of evolution, devolution, and life cycles. Welcome to the mind of an ArchiNerd:

     -- Upon seeing the dilapidated house, I quickly took a few mental photos, since the image was fleeting. I noticed vines and other plants creeping their way up the structure; I noticed how it splintered and sagged in the middle, as if ready to collapse at any given moment. I also noted the discoloration of the wood framing and cladding. The original color was some shade of beige. However, various areas of the wood were black or brownish, I inferred, because of exposure to the elements.

     -- I then began imagining the dilapidated house as a plant, either young or old. As a young "plant", the house would grow and evolve, cast off its natural constraints--the foliage--and transform into a beautiful, sublime structure, comparable to divine structures to either side. As the house "grew", it would then go through various stages of habitation, abandonment, and exposure; this would ultimately lead the the house's weathering, like the discoloration, sagging, and splintering.

     -- The house would go in to the final stages of its life cycle. The house would eventually become dilapidated again, much like its beginnings as a young "plant". Nature would then run its course and the house would, in essence, "return to the earth", covered in plants. The life cycle would then be complete.

All of this flowed through my mind, occasionally brushing against the elephant in the brain: TOMORROW IS MOVE-IN DAY!!!! I still have not come to fully comprehend that statement. I've to be up bright and early tomorrow morning to get a head start on the day's work. I'm truly "living on a prayer" right now.. o_O

New Beginnings

As I lie here on the floor of our family room, in front of my new laptop, my mind is swirling with numerous thoughts and feelings: feelings of excitement, sadness, melancholy; thoughts of what was, and will be... It's the night before a big change. Tomorrow I will embark on a 7-hour journey to my new home: Tulane University.

But pure happiness and fear encompass all.

I'm happy to begin this new chapter in my life - college is a big step up from living at home with your parents and going to high school.  I'm also so happy to experience new things: a new locale, new people, new intellectual roads to explore. However, no matter how hard I try to stay in this "happy place", the fear reaches its cold, skeletal fingers into my mind.

It's the fear of the unknown that clouds my mind.

Though I'm happy to travel the intellectual path set before me, I'm approaching my classes with a sense of apprehension. There are two subjects that are entirely brand new to me: Intro to Architecture and Design. Now, I try to think of it like this:  Intro to Architecture is simply a history class with a very specific topic at its core. Design is simply a REALLY long art class. At the same time, however, I keep telling myself: "Self, just what exactly are you getting into?" I tell myself, "I have no clue". "Architecture".....At this moment, that word seems more nebulous to me than ever before. Sometimes I feel like I done well to prepare myself for Studio; I've spent much of the summer researching different architects and their designs; I've continued to work on ideas through sketching and modeling; sometimes I feel like none of this is enough. Well, I guess I will see soon enough.

...................Time to wake up mom and dad so we can pack the car..............The time has come..for New Beginnings.....