Site as Dwelling_Dwelling as Site

Well everyone, here we are: the first year architecture students have been assigned their final project for the semester. It is titled: "Site as Dwelling_Dwelling as Site". In this project, we have been challenged to design a "dwelling" (not house) for a prescribed client. The dwelling has to be a part of the site, and the site must be part of the dwelling, hence the project's title.  We are currently investigating the different possibilities of how the dwelling is placed on the site so that it does not exist solely as an object that simply floats in the field that is the site.  I am currently working on site studies in which my houses exists within terraces that manipulate the landscape. Stay tuned people, this is bound to get interesting.

The Rosenbaum House!

Over fall break, I got the chance to visit the Rosenbaum house, a Frank Lloyd Wright design in Florence, Alabama. This was the highlight of my break, besides just being home. I was able to see the horizontality present in many of his designs, the dematerialization of forms within the house, and his cool furniture! I also learned some interesting facts: Mrs. Rosenbaum loved the house so much that she lived there for 15 years (I think) without any heat. Talk about commitment! Enjoy these pictures!

Another Random Picture

It's fall break, so I'm taking some time to relax.....and to obsess about Golden Sun!!!! Golden Sun, for you non-gamers out there, is a role-playing series released in the early 2000s. Basically, you run around, fight monsters, fight bigger monsters, and stop the big bad buys from destroying the world with magical powers. The third game is being released in November, a release for which we fans have been waiting for over 7 YEA\RS! That's why I'm in total geek/nerd/obsession/weirdo mode right now. So, in celebration of the game's release, and to practice drawing for Visual Media, I decided to draw a picture of Isaac, the main character of the story.  I know most of y'all don't get it, but here you go! Professor Stoll, if you ever read this blog, I know what you're thinking. This drawing is too "outline-y".  Of that I am aware.  But you'll be happy to know that I employed some of the techniques you've taught us so far! I started off simple, with gestured circles, extracted the important lines, and finally began the addition of details.  The only thing I forgot was line weight.  That's something to consider for the next one!!  Enjoy!

Random Picture

Recently I took a walk in Audubon Park, across the street from Tulane. I took some plant pictures for TIDES class, but got sidetracked with the animals and whatnot. However, I did manage to snap this nice photo of Loyola's tower. I like how it's framed by the sky and the trees. Enjoy!

Just for the Record........

I HATE PHYSICS!!!!!!!!!


.........Good day.

The Mask_The Veil_The Scaffolding

The first year architecture students finally completed the lengthy Architekton assignment.  Last week, we received our latest assignment, entitled "The Mask_The Veil_The Scaffolding".  In this project, we have been challenged to take a Cubist or Renaissance painting, to break it down into its compositional components, and to analyze these elements. After investigating these elements, we must create a three-dimensional model that superimposes three to six elements we discovered.  I chose El Lissitzky's 1922 painting, "Proun 19D".  Lissitzky's painting was known as suprematist, a movement which , rejected the recreation of natural shapes and favored a shift towards geometric forms.  Specifically, his "Proun" (pronounce pro-oon) pieces were defined, in the words of Lissitzky, as as “the station where one changes from painting to architecture”.  At the moment, Lissitzky is one my favorite artists; there are so many compositional elements that lie just beneath the canvas.

El Lissitzky's "Proun 19D", 1922.

For Visual Media, we are currently working on collages in the syle of Anne Ryan.  But that's a story for another day! I'll post pics and elaborate at a later time. Right now, it's time for bed.